Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah Travelers on High Alert: Emirates NBD Cautions Against Surge in Holiday Scams and Fake Deals, Here’s What to Know Before Booking Your Trip

Published on December 31, 2025

As the festive season reaches its peak, Dubai has witnessed an alarming rise in holiday scams targeting shoppers and travelers. Emirates NBD, one of the leading banks in the UAE, has issued a crucial alert to its customers, highlighting a surge in fraudulent activities. With travel bookings, hotel reservations, and online shopping reaching new heights in December, scammers are capitalizing on the rush. Fraudulent flight offers, fake accommodation deals, and deceptive online stores are now more prevalent, as criminals exploit consumers’ eagerness to secure great deals. As the holiday season becomes a prime target for scammers, Emirates NBD is urging customers to take extra precautions to protect their financial and personal data while shopping or booking travel.

The Rise of Scams During the Holiday Rush

The last month of the year, particularly the December period, is known for its surge in retail and travel activities. With people booking flights to exciting destinations, securing hotel stays, and buying holiday gifts, fraudsters use this rush to their advantage. As social media, email campaigns, and messaging apps see an uptick in activity, scammers craft well-designed fake deals that closely resemble legitimate offers from trusted companies. These scams often involve online stores advertising massive discounts on luxury goods, electronics, and perfumes, which end up being completely fake.

Scammers Focus on Flight and Hotel Bookings

The most common types of scams reported by Emirates NBD involve fraudulent flight deals and fake hotel bookings. These scams are often circulated through social media platforms, offering travelers deals that appear too good to be true. The scammers use cloned websites that mimic legitimate airline or hotel pages, where unsuspecting customers end up entering sensitive payment details. Fake airline offers or cheap hotel stays become a costly trap for those eager to lock in their holiday plans.

Fake Online Stores Luring Shoppers

In addition to the flight and hotel scams, another growing threat is the increasing number of fake online stores. These fraudulent platforms lure shoppers with offers of unrealistically low prices on high-end goods, including electronics, perfumes, and luxury accessories. However, once payments are made, the sites quickly disappear, leaving buyers with neither products nor refunds. Shoppers often fall victim to these cloned websites, unaware that they are dealing with fraudulent entities until it’s too late.

Delivery Scams – A New Threat to Beware Of

Another alarming trend identified by the bank involves delivery-related scams. Fraudsters are sending fake emails or SMS notifications, claiming that a parcel is delayed or requires immediate payment. These messages often contain links that, if clicked, can infect devices with malware or steal sensitive information. It’s important for consumers to stay vigilant and not act hastily when receiving unexpected delivery messages during this time of the year.

How to Protect Yourself During the Festive Season

The surge in fraudulent activity during the holiday season doesn’t have to ruin your plans if you take a few simple precautions. Emirates NBD has provided some essential tips to ensure that shoppers and travelers in Dubai stay safe from scammers:

1. Book Through Official Channels: Always make travel arrangements through trusted and official websites of airlines or hotels. Avoid third-party sites shared on social media or messaging apps.
2. Check Website URLs: Fraudulent websites often have slight variations in their URLs. Always look for errors in the domain name or spelling mistakes before entering your payment details.
3. Verify Seller Reviews: Before making a purchase, check for reviews and ratings of online sellers. If there are no reviews or if the reviews seem too generic, consider it a red flag.
4. Be Wary of Unsolicited Messages: Don’t click on links in unsolicited emails, texts, or WhatsApp messages, especially those that seem urgent or too good to be true.
5. Confirm Discounts: If a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is. Confirm details by contacting the company directly through verified contact information.

Additional Tips for Shoppers and Travelers

• Avoid Payments via Links: Never pay for goods or services through links in WhatsApp or social media messages. Instead, visit official websites and use recognized payment methods.
• Enable Two-Factor Authentication: For added protection, enable two-factor authentication on your online accounts, including banking and shopping platforms, to prevent unauthorized access.
• Stay Updated: Follow local news and updates from trusted sources to stay informed about current scams and fraudulent activities. This will help you recognize potential threats before they impact you.

Travelers’ Top Priority: Stay Informed and Vigilant

As Dubai continues to be a major travel and shopping hub, it’s essential for both locals and tourists to stay vigilant during the holiday season. While the lure of discounts and cheap travel deals is strong, the risk of falling victim to a scam is greater than ever. By staying informed, verifying offers, and using trusted channels, you can ensure a safe and enjoyable holiday season without falling prey to fraudsters.

Final Thoughts on Protecting Yourself from Holiday Scams

This festive season, while excitement fills the air with plans for travel and shopping, it’s important to remember that fraudsters are always ready to exploit the rush. Staying cautious, verifying deals, and booking through official websites are your best strategies for protecting your personal and financial information. Emirates NBD’s warning serves as a reminder that when it comes to holiday deals, taking the extra time to verify legitimacy can save you from the headaches of falling victim to holiday scams.