Two arrested for selling fake visas through social media

dubai — Two Arab men, who allegedly took money from residents to issue bogus UAE visas, have been arrested in Dubai. One of the suspects posed as a government official and claimed he could issue residence visas for all nationalities.

The duo committed the fraud that was masterminded by a third suspect who lives in a GCC country. The police have recovered Dh40,000 from the suspects, which was made through the fraud.

Brigadier Mohammed Rashid bin Sari, director of the general department of criminal investigation, said an Arab man complained to the police that he was defrauded of Dh4,000. He was looking to bring his wife to the UAE when he came across an advertisement for residence visa posted on social media and responded to it. He claimed that after contacting the suspect, he transferred the amount to the other suspect through a money exchange.

“The suspect sent me a copy of a visa, which later turned out to be fake. I came to know about the fraud only after my wife was prevented from travelling to the country as the visa was forged,” said the Arab victim.

The police received some other similar complaints and formed a team which checked the said advertisements on social media. Investigations revealed that the second suspect — who was receiving the money — resided in Fujairah. The investigating team coordinated with the relevant authorities in Fujairah to raid the suspect’s apartment. The police arrested the suspect and seized Dh40,000 from his apartment. He led the police to the other suspect, who said his role in the fraud was limited to communicating with the victims.

Colonel Omar bin Hammad, deputy director of the department of anti-economic crimes, said the third suspect — who is based out of the UAE — was the mastermind of the crime. This suspect worked in a technology company and used a “sophisticated communication programme” to draw out the victims. He also created a number of pages on social media to commit the fraud.

An arrest warrant has been issued for this suspect.

Colonel bin Hammad has called on residents to deal with authorised departments in the country for visas.

dh40K

Amount of money recovered by the police from the suspects

I came to know about the fraud only after my wife was prevented from travelling to the country as the visa was forged.”

The victim