Dubai authorities have escalated warnings about an increasing wave of sophisticated fraudulent ticketing operations targeting high-demand concerts, entertainment events, and travel services. The Anti-Fraud Centre at Dubai Police’s General Department of Criminal Investigation has identified a pattern where scammers intensify operations ahead of major events, exploiting consumer urgency and fear of missing out through psychologically manipulative tactics.
Cybercriminals are employing increasingly sophisticated methods, creating counterfeit websites and unverified social media pages that meticulously mimic legitimate ticketing platforms and event organizers. These fraudulent portals utilize cloned payment gateways and push users toward direct wallet transfers, often employing OTP consent manipulation where victims unknowingly authorize significantly larger transactions than anticipated.
According to cybersecurity experts, many fraudulent operations originate outside UAE borders and operate in rapid cycles, with fake domains being frequently replaced once detected. Cosmin Ivan, CEO of regional ticketing platform Platinumlist, emphasized that payment processing irregularities serve as the most reliable indicator of fraudulent activity, noting that scammers frequently register lookalike domains shortly before ticket presales or major announcements.
Dubai Police urge consumers to exclusively utilize official organizer websites and verified ticketing platforms, carefully scrutinizing website URLs and remaining skeptical of offers presenting discounts of 50-70% for events that are either not yet on sale or already sold out. Suspicious activity should be immediately reported through Dubai Police’s smart application, non-emergency hotline 901, or the dedicated eCrime platform to facilitate rapid enforcement and domain takedowns.