Fraud rings impersonate embassy officials in UAE; Indian, Lebanese governments issue alert

DUBAI — Two separate fraud campaigns are targeting Indian and Lebanese residents across the UAE, prompting urgent warnings from both governments about identity theft and financial exploitation through phone impersonation and document scams.

The Lebanese embassy in the UAE has documented a pattern of fraudulent calls in which criminals impersonate officials from the UAE embassy in Beirut. The callers claim recipients face unresolved legal or administrative matters requiring immediate action, request permission to appoint a representative, and demand payment to settle fabricated issues. What makes these calls particularly effective is their use of genuine personal information about victims, combined with spoofed numbers that match or resemble legitimate embassy contacts.

Bassam Ahmed, a 50-year-old Lebanese resident in Dubai, encountered this tactic directly. He received a call from someone claiming to represent the UAE embassy in Lebanon, insisting he had a problem requiring settlement. When Ahmed checked the number, it matched the legitimate Beirut embassy contact. After reporting the incident to Dubai authorities, he confirmed it was fraudulent. The same caller rang back but disconnected the moment Ahmed mentioned police involvement. Ahmed urged residents to report such calls rather than engage further.

Meanwhile, the Indian consulate-general in Dubai has identified a separate but equally serious threat targeting Indian citizens, particularly blue-collar workers. Fraudsters pose as authorized agents offering help with visa processes, exit permits, Emirates IDs, Emergency Certificates, visa regularization, and employment arrangements. Once victims hand over biometric data, scammers conduct unauthorized financial transactions, open bank accounts, and secure loans or credit cards in victims’ names. Those whose identities are stolen risk fines, travel bans, or imprisonment.

The consulate was direct about where biometric data can legitimately be submitted: only at official UAE government facilities. Indian residents should never provide passports, Emirates ID details, facial or eye scans, fingerprints, or financial information to individuals, agents, or third-party service providers claiming authorization from UAE authorities. The Indian consulate-general in Dubai and the Indian embassy in Abu Dhabi do not request fingerprints, facial scans, or eye scans from applicants seeking passports or Emergency Certificates.

“Any individual or agent demanding such biometric data in the name of the embassy is engaging in fraud and should not be entertained,” the consulate stated.

Indians approached by agents requesting biometric information can verify credentials through the Pravasi Bharatiya Sahayta Kendra helpline at 800 46342, or seek assistance via WhatsApp or SMS at (054) 309 0571 or by email at [email protected]. The consulate urges all Indian residents and visitors to verify the credentials of anyone offering immigration, documentation, or employment-related services and to report suspicious activity to the Indian mission or relevant UAE authorities.

The warnings reflect a broader pattern of identity fraud targeting migrant communities in the Gulf, where workers frequently rely on agents for documentation and visa services, creating openings that organized fraud networks have learned to exploit. Whether enforcement coordination between the two embassies and UAE authorities will follow remains an open question.