Dubai: Scammers using AI to forge official documents, police warn

In a growing trend, scammers are increasingly using artificial intelligence (AI) to forge both official and unofficial documents, Dubai Police have warned. They urged residents and institutions to stay alert, noting that the tactic is increasingly linked to financial fraud and attempts to bypass the law. Dubai Police on Tuesday (January 13) cautioned that fines for such offences can reach up to Dh750,000.

Forged documents are now being circulated through e-mails and social media platforms, often appearing professionally written and convincing, according to a warning issued by the Anti-Fraud Centre at the General Department of Criminal Investigation.

However, many forged documents contain red flags, including inaccurate or inconsistent information, wording that does not match approved official templates, and the use of fake signatures or stamps, the Anti-Fraud Centre said.

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As part of the #BewareofFraud campaign, Dubai Police are telling organisations and the public not to trust documents just because they look real. The centre explains that scammers are using new AI tools to make fake papers that are hard to spot right away.

Police recommend checking where the document came from, looking at digital file details like when it was created or changed, and confirming any official reference numbers through trusted sources.

Dubai Police emphasise that using AI to make fake documents is a crime and will be punished by law. They add that staying aware and careful is the best way to protect against fraud.

If you think you have found fraud, report it right away using the Dubai Police smart app, by calling 901, or through the eCrime platform for online crimes.

Legal penalties for document forgery

Dubai Police highlighted that UAE law imposes strict penalties on document forgery, whether official or unofficial.

Under Article 252 of Federal Decree Law No. 31 of 2021 on Crimes and Penalties, forging an official document is punishable by temporary imprisonment of up to 10 years, while forging an unofficial document carries a prison sentence.

Article 253 states that anyone who forges a copy of an official document and uses it, or knowingly uses a forged copy, faces temporary imprisonment of up to five years. If the forged copy relates to an unofficial document, the penalty is imprisonment.

Penalties for electronic document forgery

For electronic documents, Article 14 of Federal Decree Law No. 34 of 2021 on Combating Rumours and Cybercrimes stipulates a maximum term of imprisonment of 1 year and fines ranging from Dh150,000 to Dh750,000 for forging electronic documents belonging to federal or local government entities or public institutions.

If the forgery involves electronic documents issued by other entities, the penalty includes imprisonment and fines ranging from Dh100,000 to Dh300,000, or both. The same penalties apply to anyone who knowingly uses a forged electronic document.