From topping up your nol card to purchasing groceries online and paying your Dewa bill, you can sort our your day-to-day errands at the click of a button.

It’s important to note that while this is ultra-convenient, online scams have been on the uptick in the UAE. In fact as of this week, many financial services are warning customers over potential fraud threats as the UAE faces the aftermath of its worst ever storm in history.

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Emirates NBD for example, one of the UAE’s top banks, is reminding customers to ‘not fall prey to imposters pretending to be bank or government officials’ as of Wednesday April 18. And while many of us are used to the tell-tale signs of dodgy communication, it’s always a good idea to be mindful of any potential threats.

According to Dr Mohammed Al Kuwaiti, head of the UAE’s Cybersecurity Council, cyber attacks are surging across the Emirates with 71 million incidents in the first three quarters of 2023 alone.

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While this sounds bleak, you’ll be glad to know there are ways to stay safe when you’re browsing online.

The first step to avoiding online scams in the UAE is to know the forms they come in. Online scams can come in the form of emails, WhatsApp messages, fake websites, fake payment links and social media, too.

How to keep yourself safe from online scams in the UAE:

Always use an anti-virus provider

One of the easiest ways to stay safe online is to download and activate an anti-virus software on all your devices. This is especially important to have on devices you browse your bank with, make online payments with or use to share personal information. Kasperksy, Bitdefender Total Security and Norton 360 are a few reputable providers to try.

Avoid texting back unknown numbers

If you receive an SMS or WhatsApp from an unknown number about a bill you need to pay or a tracking code for a delivery, be cautious. Service providers will only send SMS or WhatsApp updates from verified accounts. If you are unsure, call to check.

Be smart when scrolling on social media

Ever noticed online adverts on Facebook or Instagram with enticing sales? Don’t click through as this could be a scam. Similarly, avoid clicking on links sent to you by brands online via your direct messages on social media.

Check websites and links carefully

Before clicking on any link, it’s important to check if it’s real or fake. While some links may look legit, there are small giveaways that they might not be.

Some ways to verify a link include:

• Use a website safety checker like Google’s Safe Browsing.
• Double check URLs. If a brand or well-known service provider is misspelt, it’s probably fake. Another way to check a URL is to hover over a link before clicking on it. You should be able to see where it leads to in your browser with Chrome or Firefox.
• Check that a website includes ‘HTTPS’. This helps to protect your details online and if a website doesn’t include this, you are vulnerable. A tiny padlock symbol should also be present.
• Look for a privacy policy.
• Watch out for pop-ups. If you land on a website with loads of pop-up adverts, it’s best to log off

Don’t share personal information online

If you receive an email, phone call or message from your bank or a service provider you use regularly, requesting your personal details, alarm bells should go off.

Banks and other service providers will never request you to share personal details online. If you are unsure whether a customer service provider is who they say they are, call the company to verify them. Personal details you should never share may include your bank details, full name and surname, and passwords.

Use strong passwords

Always set strong passwords for all your online profiles. Use at least eight characters and include a mix of upper and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters. Remember to change it every three months to stay extra safe, and use different passwords for different sites if you can.

Happy browsing.

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