Question 1

What is the "Instagram and WhatsApp Apartment Rental Fraud" scam in Dubai?

Accepted Answer

Fraudsters advertise short-term holiday apartments in Downtown Dubai, Dubai Marina, and Palm Jumeirah on Instagram and via WhatsApp, using stolen photographs of real luxury units. They request full payment or a large deposit via bank transfer before handing over keys, then become unreachable on arrival day. Unlike the villa deposit scam targeting long-stay rentals, this scheme targets tourists booking 2–7 night stays and uses peer-to-peer messaging apps to avoid traceable booking platforms. Book short-term apartments exclusively through established platforms such as Airbnb, Booking.com, or licensed UAE property managers. Never transfer money via bank transfer or cryptocurrency to an individual advertising on Instagram or WhatsApp. Verify the listing exists on a regulated platform before paying anything.

Question 2

What is the "Fake Dubai Attraction Ticket Reseller" scam in Dubai?

Accepted Answer

Pop-up stands inside and around the Dubai Mall offer heavily discounted tickets to Burj Khalifa At the Top, Dubai Aquarium, and VR Park, claiming to be official resellers. Tickets either fail to scan on arrival, are valid for dates the tourist is not in Dubai, or are duplicates already used by someone else. Victims have no recourse as the stands have no permanent registration. Book all Dubai Mall attraction tickets directly through the official Burj Khalifa website at tickets.burjkhalifa.ae or the Dubai Mall app. Official ticket desks are inside the mall at marked locations adjacent to each attraction entrance. No legitimate reseller offers discounts deeper than 10-15 percent.

Online Scams in Dubai

Instagram and WhatsApp Apartment Rental Fraud

Fake Dubai Attraction Ticket Reseller

Experienced a scam here?