UAE: Police warn residents against using dating apps, accepting friend requests from strangers

Last Updated: Thursday, May 11, 2023 at 6:39pm

Residents of the UAE are urged to be mindful of their online activities as cybercriminals, hackers and blackmailers are always on the lookout for their next victim. Abu Dhabi Police issued an alert on Thursday warning the community of potential dangers associated with social media use.

Got a friend request from a stranger? Not acceptable, the police stressed. Private photos and videos should also not be published or shared with casual Internet users.

Authorities say the practices put people at risk of extortion and extortion.

Also beware of dating sites and apps, as cybercriminals often use these platforms to find victims, they added.

Abu Dhabi Police also identified seven factors and common mistakes that make residents vulnerable to blackmail:

visit suspicious websites

social media addiction

Parents fail to supervise and care for teens

weak religious beliefs

floating behind fake relationships

emotional emptiness

feeling neglected

Explaining how extortion and extortion usually work, Abu Dhabi Police said criminals would threaten victims with releasing private photos or videos of them – often involving money – if they did not give in to their demands. Authorities added that other victims were also forced to participate in illegal activities.

In some cases, the blackmailer will contact the potential victim and invite him or her to a live broadcast. “Once the victim turns on his/her camera, the criminal can easily capture some footage of the person in immoral situations,” Abu Dhabi Police said. This can then be used for blackmail.

what to do in this situation

Those who fall victim to such scams are advised to be firm and not give in to threats. The police emphasized that do not send money. Instead, contact the police through the 24/7 Aman service to report incidents anonymously. They can call toll free 8002626 (AMAN2626) or text 2828.

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