How to report a crypto scam in the UAE
Act fast. Report to the police online โ via Dubai Police eCrime if the fraud involved Dubai, or the federal Ministry of Interior for cross-Emirate cases โ and contact your bank immediately to try to freeze the funds.
Report online โ the fastest step
Where you file depends on the Emirate. If the fraud happened in or via Dubai, use Dubai Police eCrime. For anything cross-Emirate or outside Dubai, use the federal Ministry of Interior (MOI) eCrime channel or the MOI UAE app.
Dubai Police call centre: 901; emergency 999. Abu Dhabi Police Aman: 8002626.
Who to report to in the UAE
- โขDubai Police eCrime โ report cybercrime/online fraud in Dubai; call centre 901.
- โขMinistry of Interior (MOI) โ federal eCrime for cross-Emirate cases; MOI UAE app.
- โขSecurities & Commodities Authority (SCA) โ warnings & violations list; verify licensed firms.
- โขSanadak โ the Central Bank's financial ombudsman, for disputes with a licensed bank after a scam.
Check before you pay
Verify any "investment firm" before and after paying โ confirm licensing directly on the regulator's own site (the SCA's licensed-companies list, or Dubai's VARA for virtual-asset firms) rather than links the firm sends. Funds on unlicensed crypto exchanges are not protected.
SCA โ warnings & violations โWhere to get help & support
- โขAbu Dhabi Police Aman โ 8002626 (confidential, 24/7); fast first contact, especially in Abu Dhabi.
- โขSanadak โ the Central Bank's ombudsman for disputes with a licensed bank.
Do this right now
- โขStop all contact and send no more money โ including "fees" or "taxes" to withdraw.
- โขContact your bank immediately to try to freeze or recall the transfer.
- โขPreserve evidence: screenshots, wallet addresses, transaction hashes, the scam website or app.
- โขReport the scam wallet address on Chainabuse.
UAE-specific things to know
- โขWhere you file first depends on the Emirate: use ecrime.ae (Dubai Police) for Dubai; the federal MOI eCrime for cross-Emirate or non-Dubai cases. Filing in the wrong jurisdiction slows things down.
- โขAman (8002626) is for security tip-offs, not a formal criminal report โ for a case with a tracking number, file via eCrime/MOI or a police station.
- โขVerify any investment firm before paying: check the SCA licensed list, and Dubai's VARA for virtual-asset firms. Funds on unlicensed platforms aren't protected.
- โขFederal Public Prosecution also runs the "My Safe Society" app for reporting cyber offences.
โ ๏ธ Beware "recovery" services. Anyone who contacts you promising to get your money back for an upfront fee is almost always a second scam. See the red flags โ
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