- The United Arab Emirates’ top cybersecurity official has issued a stark warning over the rise of sophisticated social media fraud
- The schemes were seen to be targeting members of the public
- In light of this, authorities have increased efforts to strengthen digital awareness during Ramadan
The United Arab Emirates’ top cybersecurity official has issued a stark warning over the rise of sophisticated social media fraud schemes targeting members of the public, as authorities step up efforts to strengthen digital awareness during Ramadan.
Dr Mohammed Hamad Al Kuwaiti, Head of the UAE Government Cybersecurity Council, highlighted the growing threat during the third Ramadan majlis on drug prevention, held under the slogan ‘Conscious Family… Safe Homeland’ in Abu Dhabi.
The session, organised by the National Drug Enforcement Authority (NDEA) at the Abdullah Bin Dafna Council, focused on the role of families in safeguarding children and building a secure future.
It was attended by senior officials and community leaders, including Major General Dr Ahmed Naser Al Raisi, Inspector General at the Ministry of Interior.
Addressing the audience, Dr Al Kuwaiti described a recent case involving an elderly man in his late sixties who fell victim to an attempted online blackmail scheme after creating an Instagram account and sharing personal information.
According to Dr Al Kuwaiti, the man received a friend request from a woman. After exchanging brief messages, communication stopped, only to resume later through another account.
The victim was then sent a video clip allegedly showing the woman being assaulted, leading him to believe the incident was genuine.
The fraudsters escalated the deception by demanding a ransom of Dhs150,000, threatening to continue harming the woman if payment was not made.
The elderly man, deeply distressed, reportedly lost sleep for several days as the pressure mounted.
In a further attempt to legitimise the scam, the perpetrators contacted him using a number that purported to belong to the UAE embassy in Yemen.
The caller claimed officials had left the country and would not intervene, advising the victim to contact individuals in Yemen directly to resolve the matter through payment.
Dr Al Kuwaiti clarified that no such embassy existed and that the phone number was fabricated.
The story, he said, had been carefully constructed to intimidate and manipulate the victim.
The situation only began to unravel when the man’s son intervened and sought verification.
The ambassador was contacted and confirmed that the claims were entirely false. Subsequent investigations revealed that the same group had targeted more than 13 individuals, securing transfers amounting to Dhs150,000.
Officials used the case to underline how criminals exploit fear, authority and emotional manipulation to extort money.
They warned that social media platforms, while valuable communication tools, can also serve as gateways for organised fraud when personal information is shared carelessly.
Dr Al Kuwaiti stressed the importance of digital vigilance, urging families to speak openly about online risks and to verify suspicious communications through official channels. He shared that community awareness remains one of the strongest defences against cybercrime.
Authorities said collaboration between cybersecurity bodies, law enforcement and financial regulators is critical to countering increasingly complex fraud schemes.
