As one of the most visited cities and a travel hub with the one of the busiest airports in the world, Dubai is a place where many fraudsters and tricksters try to make a fast buck by duping and fooling visitors as well as residents. From time to time, new scams come to light here. Most recently, a travel agency reeled unsuspecting visitors in with a bogus offer. Learn more about this and other travel scams visitors could encounter while visiting Dubai.
A travel company in Bur Dubai was offering a membership that was supposed to entitle people to avail various benefits such as access to fitness centres, stays at top end hotels and even discounted air tickets. The membership had validity up to 10 years. However, when people tried to claim the holidays, the company refused to provide the services promised.
40 families have reported a similar experience and have demanded the refund of their membership fees between Dh4,000 and Dh40,000. The Dubai Department of Economic Development (DED) is currently examining the issue. The people involved found out that others had been similarly duped via WhatsApp messages.
Several wealthy Chinese people were lured to the UAE on the pretext of undergoing medical checkups and other procedures at a “royal hospital” in Dubai. One couple was duped into coughing up $160,000. After the people would arrive in Dubai, they would be told that they had high cancer risk and expensive treatments would be recommended. The suspects are believed to be connected to the Guangzhou Weituo International Biotechnology Co., and the huge scam is thought to have swindled about 1,800 people out of a total of 650 million Yuan.
Earlier this year, passengers traveling with the Emirates airline were warned of fake social media messages offering free airfares as a promotion to coincide with the airline's anniversary. The message circulating on social media would invite people to click on a fake link which would enable the fraudsters to steal personal information, such as login and other info. Emirates issued a clarification that there was no such offer from their side; that people should beware of such scams.
Visitors are warned not to use unauthorised taxis while in the UAE; since these could charge enormous rates of unsuspecting tourists. It is also important to beware of taxis with tampered metres and to know about the regular fare rates to avoid being overcharged. Tourists should also steer clear of dubious street vendors selling fake data and cell phone packages and to buy these only from legit phone companies.
Many visitors to Dubai want to buy gold here. However, if the prices seem too good to be true, the gold is probably fake too. Check the authenticity of the jewellery store by checking for a registration number before buying. Visitors should also be wary of beggars with a sob story, pickpockets and spiked drinks; as they would be while travelling anywhere else in the world as well!
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