The Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) alerts the financial services community and the public to a fake email in which both the DFSA and a member of its senior management were impersonated.

This is an advance fee scam in which the scammers sent an email purportedly from the DFSA’s Chief Operating Officer to an individual, relating to the “endorsement and clearance” of an “International Anti-Money Laundering Clearance Certificate”. The fraudulent email was sent from [email protected] with the subject line “DFSA”.

The fake email states:

“Kindly note that your platinum non-Resident Online Checking Account…has been flagged and temporary suspended by World Bank due to International Anti Money Laundering Clearance Certificate. We have carefully review your application file … and we did not see your Anti Money Laundering Certificate.

You are hereby advised to forward a scan copy of the above stated certificate for immediate release of your Platinum Non-Resident account from Temporary suspension by World Bank.”

A fraudulent payment receipt is attached to the email, showing an outstanding balance of “18,882.00 AED” for “DFSA Endorsement and Clearance”.

In an attempt to make the scam seem authentic, the scammers have fraudulently used the DFSA’s logo, along with the name and position of the DFSA’s Chief Operating Officer without authorisation.

The DFSA informs you that:

• the email is false, fraudulent, and was not sent by the DFSA;
• the email address “[email protected]” is false, fraudulent, and not operated by the DFSA;
• the DFSA does not provide endorsement nor clearance of “International Anti-Money Laundering Certificates”;
• there is no such thing as an “Anti-Money Laundering Certificate” as a requirement for banking transactions; and
•  the DFSA does not charge fees for certificates.

The DFSA strongly advises you not to respond to any communications regarding this scam, and under no circumstances should you send or give any money to any party connected to the scam.

The DFSA has a page on its website dedicated to alerts which is has issued about scams. All alerts issued by the DFSA may be accessed by going to Alerts

The DFSA has also issued warnings and guidance about the common types of scams perpetrated on consumers. For more information on these scams, please go to How to avoid being scammed

The DFSA encourages consumers to refer to the list of regulated Firms and Authorised Individuals licensed by the DFSA that is available on the DFSA's Public Register

If you have any concerns about the authenticity of any correspondence or documents that purport to be issued by the DIFC, DFSA or a DFSA-regulated Firm, you should direct your concerns to the DIFC on Tel: +971 4 362 2222 and to the DFSA via the DFSA Complaints function on Complaints