Sharjah Police warn of fake holiday-booking scams

Sharjah Police have cautioned residents against fraudulent bookings for holiday chalets, apartments and tourist facilities, warning that scammers are taking advantage of peak travel periods. According to the force, fraudsters post fake online advertisements showing appealing properties at unusually low prices, then push victims into paying a deposit immediately.

How the scam works

Police say the fraudsters manufacture a false sense of urgency typically claiming that bookings are filling up fast to hurry people into transferring money before they have time to check. Payment is requested up front, usually by bank transfer or an electronic payment method.

Once the money lands, the scammers cut off all contact. Victims are then left to discover that the advertised property either does not exist or that its photographs were lifted from genuine listings elsewhere. Because the funds move quickly and communication vanishes, the losses can be very difficult to recover.

What the police advise

The force urged the public to verify the credibility of advertisers and to deal only with licensed businesses that can provide an official contract and an authorised receipt before any money changes hands. Hasty payments, police warned, can lead to financial losses that are hard to reverse.

How to protect yourself

1. Be wary of prices well below the market rate an offer that seems too good to be true usually is.
2. Book only through licensed operators or established platforms, and insist on a written contract and an official receipt.
3. Don't let urgency rush you “almost sold out” pressure is a classic tactic to stop you checking.
4. Verify the property independently  search the address and reverse-search the photos to see if they appear on other listings.
5. Avoid direct transfers to a personal account; favour traceable, secure payment methods.
6. Confirm the advertiser's identity and licensing, and call an official listed number rather than one supplied only in the advert.