Dubai, UAE - In a cautionary tale for renters, the Dubai Criminal Court has sentenced an Arab man to three months in prison and fined him AED 103,000 for defrauding a European man through a fake apartment rental advertisement.
The incident occurred last March when the European victim reported to the police that he had been scammed. According to the victim, he enlisted a real estate agent to find an apartment for rent in Business Bay. A few days later, the agent informed him of a listing that matched his requirements on a rental website.
The real estate agent conveyed that the suspect claimed to be a citizen of a Gulf country and stated that the apartment belonged to his brother, who owned multiple properties across Dubai. The suspect, purportedly acting as his brother’s authorized representative, agreed to show them the apartment.
Upon arriving at the building, the victim and the agent met the suspect at the entrance. The suspect led them to the apartment and they agreed on the rental terms. The victim then handed over AED 3,000 as a deposit, waiting for the rental contract and keys.
A few days later, the suspect informed the victim that the rental contract was ready. The victim then paid AED 100,000 to the suspect and received the apartment keys and a contract signed in the suspect’s name.
The next morning, the victim attempted to access the apartment, only to find the lock had been changed. When he contacted the suspect, he was assured that a worker would bring the correct key the following day. However, the suspect's phone was turned off the next day. Suspecting fraud, the victim contacted the land department and discovered that the contract was fake.
During the investigation, a police officer showed photos of the suspect to both the victim and the real estate agent, who identified him. Records revealed that the suspect, an Arab national, had a criminal history.
Despite the suspect's denial during interrogation, the collected evidence firmly established his guilt.
This case highlights the importance of vigilance and verification when renting properties to avoid falling victim to similar scams
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