The Cybercrime Department of the General Department of Criminal Investigations at Dubai Police has warned members of the public about the risks of downloading applications from untrusted sources, as these may contain malicious software that enables fraudsters to digitally infiltrate smartphones, steal personal and banking data, and seize funds from bank accounts.
The Cybercrime Department published an awareness video on the matter, in which it confirmed that fraudsters craft bait through applications tailored to victims and what they are searching for — whether banking or investment services, delivery apps, security updates, or other needs — leading victims to click on and download applications related to their searches, and thereby fall into the fraudsters' trap.
It added that once victims download such applications, fraudsters are able to easily infiltrate their phones digitally and steal their data and money without their knowledge.
The Cybercrime Department stressed the importance of downloading applications exclusively from official, approved stores, not sharing passwords or access codes with anyone, using trusted security software, activating bank alerts to protect accounts, and avoiding suspicious links.
The Cybercrime Department concluded that digital awareness among members of the public is the first line of defence against all forms of fraud crimes, calling for the immediate reporting of any attempted fraud through the Dubai Police smart application, by calling 901, or via the eCrime platform designated for receiving cybercrime reports.