United Arab Emirates law enforcement agencies have escalated warnings about sophisticated digital exploitation schemes targeting minors through online gaming platforms and social media. Recent court cases and police investigations reveal a disturbing pattern where criminals befriend children through interactive games, gradually gaining their trust before manipulating them into financial fraud and sexual exploitation.
According to official investigations, perpetrators typically create fabricated online identities to establish rapport with young victims, eventually shifting conversations to private digital channels. Once trust is established, children are systematically manipulated into persuading parents to provide bank cards for in-game purchases. In numerous documented cases, minors were then coerced into photographing both sides of payment cards and sharing PIN numbers, enabling criminals to execute unauthorized transactions and substantial financial theft.
This fraudulent methodology frequently coincides with other forms of online victimization including grooming practices and blackmail schemes. Abu Dhabi judicial authorities recently convicted eight individuals following comprehensive investigations that revealed systematic luring of children through social media platforms. The Abu Dhabi Criminal Court delivered severe penalties including extended prison terms, substantial financial fines, and confiscation of all electronic devices involved in the crimes.
In parallel Dubai cases, courts convicted individuals for using Instagram accounts to solicit minors for inappropriate activities. One particularly concerning incident involved a Pakistani national who established online contact with a 14-year-old girl before persuading her to meet in person, demonstrating how digital interactions can rapidly escalate into physical danger.
Legal expert Wael Obaid emphasized that UAE cybercrime legislation imposes stringent penalties for online exploitation of minors. The Federal Decree-Law on Combating Rumours and Cybercrimes mandates imprisonment and fines ranging from Dh250,000 to Dh500,000 for distributing pornographic material or content violating public morals through electronic means. Penalties intensify when crimes involve minors, carrying minimum one-year prison sentences and fines up to Dh500,000.
Brigadier Omar Ahmed Abu Al Zoud highlighted that parental awareness constitutes the primary defense against digital exploitation. Lieutenant Colonel Ali Al Yamahi specifically noted the escalating trend of financial fraud through gaming platforms, urging parents to disable private chat features, monitor children’s digital activities, and immediately report suspicious behavior through official channels.
Authorities recommend practical protective measures including refusing bank card access for in-game purchases, regularly reviewing privacy settings, establishing clear screen time rules, and educating children about never sharing financial information online. Early reporting mechanisms have been emphasized as critical for preventing financial losses and protecting children from extended exploitation.