Old scams are fading. New threats are here. Dubai Police Centre for Future Foresight has released a study showing how artificial intelligence, deepfakes, and digital tricks are fueling a surge in financial fraud. Losses are climbing fast. UAE authorities, including the Ministry of Interior and Dubai Police, have stepped up anti-fraud efforts for Cybersecurity Awareness Month. They warn that AI is already behind deepfakes, fake job offers, phishing, and forged documents, according to Gulf News.
The new research, released for Cybersecurity Awareness Month, lays out the facts. Fraudsters now use generative AI, cloned voices, fake images, and advanced social engineering. The study draws on international reports, including INTERPOL's Global Financial Fraud Threat Assessment 2026 and the Global State of Fraud 2025 from the Global Anti-Scam Alliance. Old defenses are failing. INTERPOL's latest numbers put global financial fraud losses at $442 billion for 2025. Fraud alerts jumped 40% across the Americas and Caribbean from 2024 to 2025. The threat is growing.
AI and deepfakes fuel new scams
Brigadier Dr. Hamdan Al Ghaithi, head of the Centre, says technology is moving fast. It brings new risks. He says the goal is to spot fraud before it happens and turn that knowledge into action and public awareness. The study shows fraudsters now use generative AI and deepfakes to build fake identities, copy voices and faces, and trick people with lifelike scams. These tools, along with new phishing and social engineering tactics, make scams harder to spot and easier to spread. Dubai Police have tracked AI in phishing, data leaks, deepfake crimes, fake websites, and moving illegal money through digital wallets. These findings come from official statements cited by Emirates News Agency (WAM).
INTERPOL's report, cited in the study, puts financial fraud in the world's top five criminal threats. The risk is high. It is expected to get worse in the next three to five years. The numbers are huge. The Global Anti-Scam Alliance says global fraud losses will reach $442 billion in 2025. Their survey of 46,000 adults in 42 countries found 70% faced fraud attempts in one year. More than half fell victim. Nearly a quarter lost money. In the UAE, the Central Bank (CBUAE) and Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) have warned banks and the public to stay alert and use advanced digital forensics to fight AI-powered scams.
Digital awareness is now a must
The Dubai Police study does more than warn. It calls for urgent action. Digital awareness and readiness are now basic needs for everyone. The research team compared findings from top security and research groups, including the World Economic Forum's Global Cybersecurity Outlook 2026, to track how digital crime is changing. The UAE's push for digital strength shows up in the Dubai Economic Agenda D33 and Vision 2031. Both focus on safe digital systems and strong rules for fintech and e-commerce.
The message is clear. As scammers use AI and digital tricks, only digital skills and sharp eyes can keep people safe. Dubai Police want to turn early warnings into real protection. They have set up a special unit for new AI crimes, with better digital forensics to check faces, voices, and videos for signs of tampering. This was highlighted in recent coverage by The National.
Fraud is changing fast. Losses are rising. The risk is real for Dubai and the world. The evidence is clear. Without better digital vigilance and quick action, people and businesses will stay at risk. Dubai Police are adapting to AI-driven crime, but everyone now shares the job of staying safe online. For updates and official advice, residents should check the Dubai Police official portal.
