Sharjah Police Arrest Seven in Phone-Hacking Fraud Scheme Using Fake Apps
Seven Asian men were arrested in Sharjah for running a cyber fraud operation that tricked victims into downloading malicious apps, giving the gang remote access to phones and bank accounts.
Sharjah Police Arrest Seven in Phone-Hacking Fraud Scheme Using Fake Apps
Seven Asian men have been detained in Sharjah for operating an electronic fraud network that tricked people into downloading harmful applications, enabling the suspects to take remote control of victims' phones.
The arrests took place on Sunday. According to law enforcement officials, the group pretended to be government employees to gain trust. They then convinced targets to install software that secretly opened backdoor access to their mobile devices.
Investigators revealed the criminals also misused labour information to establish bank accounts under workers' names. These accounts served as channels for moving money earned through online scams.
The case comes amid broader efforts by the UAE to strengthen defences against digital crime. The nation's Cybersecurity Council recently disclosed it had blocked complex attacks aimed at financial institutions, including phishing operations, exploitation of security gaps, malware insertion, and attempts to breach critical digital infrastructure.
The council urged all organisations across the country to follow national cybersecurity rules, reinforce protective measures, keep systems updated, and flag any suspicious online activity through official channels.
The UAE faces over 800,000 attempted cyberattacks every day, according to the Cyber Security Council. That number keeps climbing as the country's rapid digital transformation makes it one of the most targeted markets in the region.
Source: Khaleej Times