Dubai Police have arrested six members of a gang accused of stealing users’ bank card details through a fake online shopping website and withdrawing substantial sums without account holders’ knowledge. The gang was identified and apprehended following several complaints about unauthorised transactions.

The group, known as the “Sudden Withdrawals Gang”, operated a fraudulent online store that prompted users to enter their bank card details.

After obtaining the information, the suspects allegedly made online purchases and transferred money to digital wallets without the account holders’ knowledge or consent. They had also set up dedicated bank accounts and electronic wallets to receive the stolen funds.

Dubai Police said the gang also sold some bank card details to other fraudsters, who used them to make further unauthorised withdrawals.

One victim, a private-sector employee identified by the initials S.N., said she woke up one morning to multiple text messages notifying her of substantial withdrawals from her bank account. The transactions wiped out savings she had accumulated over several years of work.

“I was not even using my mobile phone and had not made any purchases. I was asleep while an unknown person was withdrawing money from my account,” she said.

The woman immediately reported the incident to Dubai Police.

Following her complaint and several similar reports, Dubai Police’s General Department of Criminal Investigation formed a specialised team to identify the suspects. After conducting investigations and surveillance operations, officers identified all six gang members and located their residences.

All the suspects were arrested in a coordinated police operation. Officers also seized bank cards obtained from victims that the suspects intended to sell, along with chequebooks used in illegal activities.

Dubai Police urged residents to verify the legitimacy of online shopping websites before entering banking details and warned them not to share confidential financial information with unknown individuals or entities.

Suspicious withdrawals or unauthorised financial activity should be reported immediately by calling 901 or through the Police Eye service or the eCrime platform on the official Dubai Police app and website.