Dubai Police have arrested an Asian man who used 'magic ink' to commit fraud by offering fake bank loans. The fraudster deceived victims into believing he could secure loans for them in exchange for money. He handed them forged documents written with disappearing ink, which would vanish soon after being issued.

According to a statement from the Dubai Police, the Fraud Prevention Center apprehended the individual following multiple reports from his victims. He had misled people by presenting fake business cards and a counterfeit job ID, falsely claiming to represent a legitimate bank.

Police explained that the scammer used two main deceptive methods. First, he persuaded victims to sign documents—like “account opening fee” agreements—in return for payments.

His second method involved acquiring cheques from the victims. While the victims signed with a regular pen, he filled out the cheque details using 'magic ink'. After the ink disappeared, he rewrote the cheques with his own name and a modified amount, leveraging his knowledge of the victims' account balances.

Safety advice from Dubai Police

Dubai Police have urged the public to remain alert to evolving fraud schemes and to avoid interacting with unofficial individuals or entities offering to facilitate bank-related transactions for money.

They stressed the importance of verifying the identity of anyone claiming to be from a financial institution by checking official identification and, if necessary, confirming their identity directly with the bank. Additionally, they recommended always using a personal pen when filling out any documents or cheques.

Authorities also advised community members to promptly report any suspicious cyber activity through the Dubai Police smart app or the eCrime platform, reinforcing their firm commitment to pursuing those who endanger public safety or unlawfully seek to defraud others.