Stocks & Crypto Scams in Dubai.
Fraudulent trading platforms, fake crypto exchanges and unlicensed brokers cost UAE investors millions every year. We help victims report the fraud, freeze assets and pursue recovery — in the UAE and abroad.
Investment fraud involving cryptocurrency and stocks has grown quickly across the UAE, targeting residents and expats alike through fake trading platforms, unlicensed brokers and social-media "investment managers" promising guaranteed returns. Losses are often discovered only once withdrawals are refused or a platform disappears entirely. Al Safar & Partners represents victims of these schemes in both the criminal and civil courts, and coordinates asset tracing where funds have moved offshore.
Common Types of Investment Fraud We See
- Fake crypto exchanges and wallets — platforms that accept deposits, show fabricated "profits," and then block or delay withdrawals indefinitely.
- Pig-butchering / romance investment scams — a trust relationship built over weeks or months before the victim is guided into a fraudulent trading app.
- Unlicensed forex and stock brokers — entities trading UAE residents' funds without SCA or DFSA/FSRA authorisation.
- Fraudulent ICOs and token launches — projects raising funds against a token or coin that is never delivered, or that collapses shortly after listing.
- "Signal group" and copy-trading scams — paid access to trading signals or bots that consistently lose client funds while operators collect fees.
The UAE Legal Framework
Investment fraud in the UAE is addressed through several overlapping regimes: the Penal Code's general fraud and breach-of-trust provisions, Federal Decree-Law No. 34 of 2021 on Combating Rumours and Cybercrimes (which covers online and electronic fraud), and the licensing regimes administered by the Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA) and, for virtual assets specifically, Dubai's Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA). Operating an unlicensed brokerage or virtual-asset platform targeting UAE residents is itself a regulatory breach that strengthens a victim's position, independent of any fraud charge.
What You Can Do as a Victim
- Preserve the evidence. Screenshots of the platform, transaction hashes, chat logs and payment confirmations are critical before an app or website disappears.
- File a police report. Dubai Police's e-Crime service and the Public Prosecution accept complaints for online financial fraud, which can trigger an asset freeze if funds are still traceable.
- Pursue a civil claim. Alongside any criminal case, a civil claim for damages allows recovery even where a criminal prosecution takes time or the fraudster has left the country.
- Trace and freeze assets quickly. Crypto assets move fast — working with forensic blockchain analysts to trace funds to an exchange wallet is often the difference between recovery and a total loss.
- Consider cross-border enforcement. Where operators or assets are based outside the UAE, recognition and enforcement of a UAE judgment abroad may be needed — see our cross-border debt recovery and asset recovery services.
How Al Safar & Partners Helps
Our criminal law team prepares and files complaints with Dubai Police and the Public Prosecution, requests provisional asset-freezing measures where funds are still within reach, and runs parallel civil recovery proceedings against the individuals or entities responsible. Where the fraud crosses borders — common in crypto cases routed through offshore exchanges — we coordinate with correspondent counsel to trace and enforce against assets outside the UAE.
Frequently Asked Questions
Need Help with Stocks & Crypto Scams? Today.
Initial consultation from AED 500 — waived when you open a case with us.