Dubizzle and Facebook Marketplace scams in the UAE: how to spot them

Buying and selling secondhand online in the UAE is normal now. So are the scams that come with it. In June 2025, Khaleej Times reported on sellers losing money through fake delivery payment links, with some residents losing up to Dh200,000 in similar schemes.

Almost all of these scams follow a handful of patterns. Once you know them, they are surprisingly easy to spot. Here are the ones UAE police and platforms warn about most, and what to do if one lands in your inbox.

1. The "buyer has paid, click to receive" link

Who it targets: sellers.

You list something. A "buyer" messages almost immediately, agrees to your price without haggling, and says they have paid through the platform or a courier. They send a link. The page looks official, says the money is waiting, and asks for your card details "to receive the payment".

There is no payment. Entering your card number, CVV or a code hands your account to the scammer.

A version reported by Khaleej Times used a fake "Careem Delivery" page on a lookalike web address. Careem has no such service. One seller lost Dh2,500 in minutes.

Dubizzle's own safety guidance says it does not ask for card details over SMS or WhatsApp and does not take payments on a seller's behalf.

2. The bank transfer that "takes a few days"

Who it targets: sellers.

The buyer shows up, or arranges a courier, and sends a screenshot of a bank transfer receipt. The money "will take several days to clear". You hand over the item. The money never arrives, because the receipt was fake.

Abu Dhabi Police have warned about exactly this. Their advice is short: do not hand anything over until the payment has actually been credited to your account. Check your banking app, not the buyer's screenshot.

3. The deposit that keeps growing

Who it targets: buyers.

You find something at a good price: a car, a rental, a hard-to-find item. The seller wants a deposit to "hold" it. Then a delivery fee. Then a customs charge. Each payment is small enough to seem reasonable on its own.

Dubai Police described this staged-payment tactic in January 2026 as one of the most common forms of online fraud, after a resident lost Dh10,000 to it.

If a seller asks for more money after you have already paid once, stop. Do not send the next payment to "unlock" the first.

4. Too cheap to be true

Who it targets: buyers.

Abu Dhabi Police listed the usual bait in April 2026: event tickets, cars supposedly "seized by customs" and sold cheap, fake property listings, and fake parcel delivery requests. The common thread is a price well below what the item is worth, and pressure to pay before you can see it.

A genuine seller with a cheap item will still let you see it before you pay. Designer bags are a favourite here, so read how to spot a fake designer bag before you buy one.

5. Lookalike websites

Dubai Police have warned that fraudsters copy real websites and change a single letter or the domain ending. A link that looks like a bank, a courier or a marketplace can be one character away from the real thing.

Do not follow payment or login links sent by a buyer or seller. Open the app or type the address yourself.

6. "Just send me the code"

No bank or government body will ask you for your CVV or a one-time code, as UAE police repeatedly remind residents. The same goes for UAE PASS: in March 2026, TDRA and Digital Dubai warned of phishing campaigns aimed at UAE PASS users and said verification codes should never be shared.

UAE banks are also moving away from SMS codes towards approving payments inside their apps. If you get an approval request in your banking app that you did not start, decline it.

Red flags, at a glance

How to buy and sell more safely

• Stay in the platform's chat. Dubizzle's guidance is to keep conversations in its own messaging, because scams usually start after a move to private chat. It also marks verified accounts with a blue-tick badge.
• Meet somewhere public. A mall or Metro station, in daylight, is better than a car park or an apartment lobby.
• Inspect before you pay. Turn it on, try it on, check serial numbers.
• Only release an item when the money is in your account.
• Use protected payment where you can. Some marketplaces hold the buyer's money until the item arrives. Khaznati, a UAE preloved marketplace, keeps payment on hold until the courier has delivered and the buyer has had 48 hours to raise a problem, and the seller is paid by the platform rather than by a link from a stranger. Facebook Marketplace and classifieds sites leave payment to the two people involved, so cash on inspection is the safer default there.

If you have been scammed

Act quickly. The sooner the bank and police know, the better the chance of stopping a transfer.

1. Call your bank and block the card or account.
2. Collect evidence: screenshots of chats and listings, phone numbers, links, and transaction records.
3. Report it.
   • Dubai: the eCrime platform, the Dubai Police app, or 901 for non-emergencies.
   • Abu Dhabi: the Aman service on 8002626, SMS 2828, or [email protected].
   • Everywhere: the UAE government portal lists the reporting channels for each emirate.
4. Report the account on the platform so the listing is taken down.

Online fraud is a criminal offence under Federal Decree-Law No. 34 of 2021 on Countering Rumours and Cybercrimes, which covers using a fake identity or impersonation online to take money or property. Penalties include imprisonment and fines that can reach AED 1,000,000.

Most people you meet on a marketplace are just trying to clear a cupboard or find a bargain. A few habits are enough to keep it that way.