The United Arab Emirates’ Cyber Security Council (CSC) has issued a stark public warning following a dramatic 35% annual increase in fraudulent messaging campaigns targeting citizens and residents. Authorities report that sophisticated phishing and SMS scams now represent one of the most pressing digital security threats in the region.
According to the Council’s latest advisory, cybercriminals are employing increasingly advanced deception techniques, including impersonating government agencies, financial institutions, and trusted commercial entities. These fraudulent communications typically create false urgency, promise unrealistic rewards, and specifically target victims’ personal and financial information.
The CSC emphasized several critical red flags for identifying malicious messages: lack of personalization, offers that appear ‘too good to be true,’ requests for sensitive data, and originating from unknown contacts. Common scam templates include messages proclaiming ‘You have won a prize,’ ‘Verify your bank account,’ or ‘You are entitled to a refund.’
Official recommendations urge the public to immediately delete suspicious messages, refrain from interaction, block unknown numbers, and report incidents to authorities. The Council further advised installing spam-blocking applications, regularly clearing untrusted messages, and rigorously verifying any communication requesting personal or financial details.
The escalating threat landscape necessitates enhanced individual cybersecurity awareness as the first line of defense. The CSC positioned these preventive measures as complementary to broader government initiatives addressing evolving digital challenges in an era of rapid technological transformation.