Dubai Police bust 20 gangs in cyber crime crackdown

Police in Dubai are once again urging residents to watch out for cyber criminals and not to fall for fake online adverts.

The reminder comes after they busted 20 different gangs that used social media platforms and dating apps to extort money from victims.

'Operation Shadow' led to the arrest of 47 African suspects from Dubai and another emirate. They had been operating out of apartments rented under fake IDs.

"The gang would threaten victims and take their belongings including mobile phones and credit cards after they take pictures of the men in indecent positions and threaten to post their videos online and share it with the victims' contacts if they report the matter to the authorities," said Brigadier Jamal Al Jallaf, Director of CID at Dubai Police.

In a separate incident, officers also nabbed a married couple who deceived social media users by posing as recruiters of domestic helpers.

"The couple confessed to their crimes and revealed that they had been scamming families across the emirates by exploiting the suspension of labour recruitment during the National Sterilisation Programme," explained Brig. Al Jallaf.

Authorities say they have been using digital forensics tools and advanced technology to investigate cyber crime cases and track down the suspects.

Dubai Police recently arrested 20 African gangs composed of 47 men and women. The gang members are involved in cyber extortion.
Community members are warned against new tactics adopted by cybercriminals to lure others and misappropriate their money. pic.twitter.com/hVXSFz3Quz

— Dubai Policeشرطة دبي (@DubaiPoliceHQ) July 1, 2020