Sharjah Police bust fraud gang behind AED3 million scams

Sharjah Police have arrested four people accused of running an international criminal network carrying out multiple fraud operations that stole more than AED3 million from victims inside and outside the UAE.

The General Command of Sharjah Police said the suspects, all of African nationality, were involved in a series of scams using different methods to target victims and obtain money through deception. The arrests were made by the Criminal Investigation and Investigation Department after several reports revealed a repeated pattern of fraud.

Colonel Dr Khalifa Al Balhai, Director of the Criminal Investigation and Investigation Department, said one of the main scams involved what police described as “fake shipment fraud”.

The suspects allegedly posed as shipping and insurance companies, convincing victims that parcels or shipments were being held for clearance and that payments were required for customs fees, insurance charges or other administrative costs.

Investigators found the group had illegally accessed data or accounts linked to an insurance company working in the shipping sector, allowing them to use real information to make the scam appear more credible. This helped them target suppliers and customers already involved in genuine shipping transactions.

Police said the operation had an international dimension, with one suspect directing the activities from outside the UAE while others inside the country collected the money and withdrew cash through ATMs. Detectives documented cash withdrawals made in two separate transactions as part of the stolen funds, which were later handed to another suspect within the network.

A second scam involved romance fraud carried out through fake social media profiles.

Police said the suspects created fake accounts using the names and photos of women to build emotional relationships with victims over time before asking for money.

After gaining trust, they allegedly used false stories such as needing money for travel, meeting in the UAE, or emergency situations to persuade victims to transfer funds using methods that were difficult to trace, including prepaid cards and indirect payment channels.

Colonel Al Balhai said the case shows how fraud methods are becoming more sophisticated, combining social engineering with digital tools to manipulate victims.

He urged the public not to respond to suspicious payment requests, especially those sent through unexpected messages or unknown accounts, and warned against sharing personal or banking details under any circumstances.

He added that police used advanced digital analysis techniques to uncover the network and identify the role of each suspect, stressing that efforts will continue to strengthen prevention systems and protect the community from similar crimes.