The Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) alerts the financial services community and the public about a fraudulent advance fee scam using a false DFSA document.

The scammers fraudulently promise to provide consumers with access to “inherited funds” of approximately USD 14,500,000 upon payment of USD 47,850 in “Income Taxes” to the DFSA.

The scammers provide consumers with a false “Notice for Tax Clearance” document on a letterhead which refers to the DFSA. A copy of the false document can be found here.

The DFSA informs you that the:
• DFSA does not collect “Income Taxes” or any type of taxes;
• DFSA does not issue a “Notice for Tax Clearance”;
• scammers have fraudulently used the name of the DFSA without authority and for malicious purposes; and
• scammers have also fraudulently used the name of a legitimate UAE bank.

The DFSA strongly advises that individuals and firms do not respond to any communication from any party involved in perpetrating the scam, and that they should under no circumstances send or give any money to such parties in connection with the scam.

The DFSA has a page on its website dedicated to alerts which it 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 Dubai International Financial Centre (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