🛡️ The Money Safety Playbook: How to spot scams and protect your UAE accounts
- Kacper Duda
- Oct 22
- 4 min read
Scammers don’t need new tricks to succeed - they just need you to rush, panic, or trust the wrong message.
From fake police calls to “blocked account” alerts, fraudsters in the UAE rely more on emotional pressure than on sophisticated technology. With October marking Cybersecurity Awareness Month, it’s a good time to refresh your habits and make sure your money, and your peace of mind, stay protected.
Read on to find out:
The psychology scammers use to get past your defences
The key layers that protect your money day to day
What to do if something goes wrong
In the news: UAE’s financial ombudsman, Sanadak, cuts complaint resolution time to 15 working days
How scammers really get in
Most scams start with emotion, not hacking.
Someone calls claiming your Emirates ID has been misused. A text says your parcel can’t be delivered unless you click a link. A WhatsApp message offers an unreal job or investment. The goal is always the same: to make you act before you think.
If a message or call feels urgent, that’s the red flag itself. No bank, telco or government department will ever threaten to block your account immediately or ask for information over WhatsApp. Hang up, breathe, and contact the organisation yourself using the number on its website or app.
Building your defensive layers
Think of your money safety in three layers: how you handle transactions, your tech habits, and the way you react under pressure.
1. Transaction hygiene - Keep exposure low and make your accounts work harder for you.
Use credit cards wherever you can. They don’t give direct access to your cash and often include purchase protection if something goes wrong.
Keep savings separate. Store only spending money in your current account so a cloned debit card can’t wipe everything out.
Turn on alerts in your banking app and never ignore them. Even a small AED 0.00 test charge can signal fraud.
Check your statements every month and report anything you don’t recognise right away.
2. Tech hygiene - Protect the digital keys to your money.
Never share OTPs or approve UAE Pass requests you didn’t start.
Avoid remote-access apps like AnyDesk or TeamViewer if someone asks you to install them - they can get full control of your phone.
Update your phone and banking apps regularly to close security holes.
Use card controls to set daily or online spending limits and freeze cards when not in use.
Create virtual cards for websites or subscriptions you don’t fully trust, then delete them afterwards.
3. Behavioural hygiene - Small habits make a big difference.
Verify before acting. If a call or message seems official, hang up and contact the organisation using its published number.
Avoid multitasking when dealing with money — most mistakes happen when distracted.
Trust your instinct. If something feels wrong, it probably is.
🚩 The red-flag checklist
Keep these four questions in mind whenever money or information is involved:
Are they trying to make you act fast?
Are they asking you to keep it secret?
Are they switching from call to WhatsApp or another channel?
Are they asking for passwords, OTPs, or UAE Pass approvals?
If any answer is yes, stop right there. Verify before you act.
Remember: Pause beats panic, every time.
When things still go wrong
If you suspect fraud, act fast. Every minute matters.
Freeze your card immediately.
Use your bank’s app to block it. If you can’t, call the number on the back of your card or on the bank’s website.
Contact your bank.
Explain what happened and ask them to open a fraud investigation.
Say you want them to raise a chargeback (a formal request to reverse the transaction).
Ask for a case reference number and make a note of when they’ll update you.
Change your passwords.
Do this for your bank account, email, and any app connected to your finances.
If your bank doesn’t resolve it, escalate it.
After a reasonable timeframe (typically 15 working days), you can raise a complaint with Sanadak, the UAE’s financial ombudsman. They’ll review your case and can instruct the bank to act - and they act faster than ever before (see our “In the news” section below).
Report the incident.
Even if your bank is already investigating, file an official report. It strengthens your case and helps authorities track trends.
Keep screenshots of messages, caller IDs, and reference numbers - they can make recovery faster.
IN THE NEWS - UAE’s financial ombudsman, Sanadak, cuts complaint resolution time to working 15 days
Last month, we wrote about UAE consumers’ growing frustration with banking customer service. When that frustration turns into a real dispute, your next step is to raise it with the UAE’s financial ombudsman, Sanadak.
Sanadak follows strict guidelines and only steps in after you’ve formally complained to the financial institution. If you’re not satisfied with the bank’s final response, or they fail to respond within the stated timeframe, you can then escalate the case through Sanadak.
The good news? The process has become much faster. Complaints are now being resolved within 15 working days, down from the previous 30. You can read more about the update in this Zawya article.
Disclaimer: Please bear in mind that this email does not constitute financial advice. Any choices you make you are solely responsible for. We always aim to provide highest quality, independent views but do your own research to ensure you’re comfortable with any changes you make to your personal finances.
