Elderly Woman Loses Dh12 Million to Online Romance Fraud "Love Scam in UAE" | A Costly Heartbreak - The scammer convinced him that he was a businessman based in Dubai.

Elderly Woman Loses Dh12 Million to Online Romance Fraud "Love Scam in UAE" | A Costly Heartbreak

Abu Dhabi: An elderly European woman has been the victim of a “romance scam” and lost around AED 12 million of her money after being emotionally abused by a scammer.

The scammer, an African citizen, tricked her into a “romance scam” by convincing her that he was a Dubai-based businessman.

Brigadier Saeed Al Hajri, Director of Cyber Crimes at Dubai Police’s Criminal Investigation Unit, gave an update on the investigation in a media interview on a private platform. He warned of the dangers of “romance fraud” or “emotional predation,” stressing that it can cause devastating financial and psychological harm to victims.

How The Conspiracy Worked:

During the discussion, Al Hajri recounted the story of an elderly European woman who lost all her savings after being targeted by a scammer. Posing as a handsome young man from Dubai, the thief persuaded her to sell all her belongings and transfer the profits to him. She also moved to Dubai, but realized that she had fallen into a trap.

Al Hajri said the hitman was not based in Dubai, but in an African country. A woman struggling with loneliness in her home country became an easy target. After the case was reported, authorities identified the scammer and his whereabouts. The case has been referred to international law enforcement agencies and diplomatic channels are being established.

He described the crime as akin to "skinning a dead body", noting that such thefts are not limited to women: men also commit crimes, but to a lesser extent. Scammers are emotionally manipulative and ruthlessly deprive them of their assets.

"Imagine someone who knows your social, financial, and emotional well-being and has the skills of a schemer."
- Brigadier Saeed Al Hajri


Misuse of social networking sites:


Social media and dating platforms make it easier for scammers to exploit victims through “social manipulation.” Many users share personal information about their lives publicly, allowing fraudsters to study their motives, identify vulnerabilities, and prey on their instincts to gain trust.

Al Hajri warned, “Imagine someone who knows everything about you – your social and financial situation, your emotional needs, whether you are lonely or content. Now add to that the fact that the man is a professional scammer with excellent manipulative skills.”

He notes that traditional scammers once faced the challenge of researching their targets, but social media has simplified this process, allowing them to reach their victims more quickly.


Combating cybercrimes:


The brigadier further noted that organized crime groups are involved in exploiting victims online, especially through social media. However, the Dubai Police are well trained to deal with these crooks, with trained officers actively monitoring such crimes. Some of the perpetrators have been arrested and others are being hunted internationally. He also said that Dubai’s cyber patrol units are working 24/7 to combat cybercrime, which has increased significantly over the past year.

Al Hajri noted that Dubai Police receives dozens of reports daily from people whose email accounts have been hacked, important messages lost or scammed via Skype, Facebook and Instagram. He emphasized precautions such as restricting access to Facebook groups and reporting suspicious accounts to be removed.

He concluded by pointing out that cybercrimes are transnational and can be committed anywhere with immediate impunity. However, increasing public awareness and digital literacy can help reduce the success of these scams. He urged victims to be courageous in reporting the theft and providing all relevant information, no matter how small, to help the authorities find the culprits.


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