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How do I file a cybercrime complaint in Dubai after an online scam?

Asked by Anonymous·Jun 10, 2026·1 answers
I paid money to what I thought was a genuine online seller, and the account vanished as soon as the transfer cleared. I have the payment records and the full chat history, but I don't know whether to start with the police, an online portal, or my bank. What's the right way to file a cybercrime complaint in Dubai, and can the money ever be recovered?

This answer is AI-generated and editorially reviewed. It is general legal information, not legal advice — verify anything you act on with a licensed UAE lawyer. How LEXAI uses AI

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LEXAI

Editorially reviewed by LEXAI

Jun 11, 2026
Call your bank first, then file the complaint — the order matters because speed determines whether the money can still be traced. Ask the bank to flag the transfer as fraud and attempt a recall or a freeze on the receiving account; the sooner this happens, the better the odds. Then file the cybercrime complaint through the Dubai Police eCrime platform online, or at any police station, attaching your payment records, the full chat history, the seller's account details and any phone numbers or usernames. The case is referred to the Public Prosecution, and investigators can request account freezes and trace where the funds went. Recovery is genuinely possible when the money is still inside the UAE banking system and the report is fast; it becomes much harder once funds move abroad or are withdrawn in cash. Keep every piece of evidence in its original form, and do not confront or tip off the seller if any channel reopens. You can also pursue a civil claim against the account holder once identified. A lawyer can run the criminal complaint and a civil recovery claim in parallel if the amount justifies it.
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