When someone calls claiming to be your bank, the police or a government agency, the safest move is simple: hang up, then contact the organization yourself using a phone number you find independently. Real banks and agencies do not mind. Scammers cannot survive it. This guide gives you the exact words to say, the rules real institutions follow, and what to do if you have already shared something.
- Caller ID can be faked. A call that appears to come from your bank or a government number proves nothing.
- Banks and officials never ask for your OTP, PIN or password. Dubai Police say banks and official entities will never request an OTP over the phone.
- No real authority demands gift cards, crypto or a “safe account” transfer.
- Hang up first, verify second. Use the number on your card, your banking app or the official website.
- Panic is the scammer’s tool. A 60-second pause to call back is worth more than any “urgent” deadline.
Why impersonation scams work so well
Impostor scams are the most reported kind of fraud. According to FTC data released in June 2026, Americans reported losing $3.5 billion (about AED 12.9 billion) to imposter scams in 2025, which accounted for nearly one in three fraud reports. Reported losses have nearly tripled since 2020. Bank impersonators accounted for nearly $1 billion (about AED 3.7 billion) of that, and government impersonators for $920 million (about AED 3.4 billion), up from $789 million in 2024.
The scams work because they combine three powerful triggers:
Authority
We are trained to respect banks, police and government. A confident voice using official language lowers our guard.
Fear
“Your account is compromised,” “a warrant has been issued,” “your residency will be cancelled.” Fear shuts down careful thinking.
Urgency
“Act in the next 10 minutes” leaves no time to check. Real processes allow time, letters and appeals.
Modern scammers also use real details. They may know your name, bank or the last four digits of your card, often from earlier data leaks. They may also spoof phone numbers so the call appears to come from your bank or a government line. In some cases they send a text that looks like it came from the police, to make the call seem real. That is why you must never judge a call by how professional or informed it sounds.
The 6 most common impersonation scripts
“We have detected suspicious activity on your account”
The caller says someone is trying to take your money and asks you to confirm your card details, read out a code or move money to a “secure” account. This is the single most common script. The FTC lists copycat account security alerts about suspicious activity or unauthorized charges as the top scam type in its 2023 data analysis.
“A case has been filed against you”
You are told you are linked to money laundering, a parcel with illegal items, or an outstanding fine, and that you must pay or cooperate right away. Dubai Police have flagged live video calls from fraudsters posing as police officers, sometimes with fake uniforms and backgrounds.
“This is the Central Bank. Your account will be blocked”
Abu Dhabi Police have warned of calls from people claiming to be from the UAE Central Bank who ask for confidential financial information, sometimes backed by a text message that appears to come from the police.
“You owe money” or “Your visa or ID is at risk”
Callers threaten to cut off benefits, arrest you for unpaid taxes, or cancel residency, unless you pay immediately. Government agencies use letters and official portals, not threats and gift cards.
“Your parcel is held and a fee is due”
A delivery company or customs officer asks for a payment link or card details to release a package. Always track parcels in the courier’s own app.
“Your computer is infected” or “Your subscription is renewing”
The FTC reports phony subscription renewals, often posing as Geek Squad, as a leading scam. The caller asks you to install remote-access software or call a number to “cancel.” Never let a stranger control your device.
The FTC notes that business and government impersonation scams increasingly overlap. A fake company employee can transfer you to a fake bank agent, who then transfers you to a fake police officer. Each handoff makes the story feel more official. If one person on the call is fake, assume they all are.
The “safe account” trick
The most expensive version of these scams tells you that your money is in danger and that you must move it to protect it. The caller may ask you to transfer funds to a “secure” or “temporary” account, withdraw cash for a courier to collect, load money onto a cryptocurrency ATM, or buy gift cards “to verify your identity.”
No legitimate bank, police force or government agency will ever ask you to move your money to keep it safe. The FTC says it clearly: anyone who asks you to buy gift cards, use a Bitcoin ATM or move money is a scammer.
Notice what happens when you accept this story. You are doing the transfer yourself, with your own authorization, so the money leaves your account willingly. That is also why recovery can be difficult, and why stopping before you send is so important. If you want to know what to do once money has moved, read our first-24-hours checklist.
What real banks and authorities never do
Memorize this list. If a caller breaks any of these rules, you are talking to a scammer.
| Real institutions never | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Ask for your OTP, PIN or full password | These are keys to your money. One bank states plainly that it will never ask for a password, OTP or PIN. |
| Ask you to read out a code sent to your phone | That code approves the scammer’s own payment or login. |
| Ask you to move money to a “safe” account | Your account is already the safest place for it. |
| Demand payment by gift cards, crypto, wire or payment apps | These are untraceable or hard to reverse, so scammers favor them. |
| Threaten immediate arrest or deportation by phone | Legal action comes through official letters, courts and appeals. |
| Ask you to install remote-access software | It gives the caller full control of your device and bank apps. |
| Tell you to keep the call secret | Secrecy stops you from verifying. Real staff encourage you to check. |
| Refuse to let you call back | A real caller welcomes verification. |
If a caller asks for any of these, you do not need to argue, explain or be polite. Hang up.
How to hang up safely: 6 steps
Interrupt the script
You are allowed to end any call. You do not need a reason, and you owe no explanation. Your safety is more important than being polite.
Say one sentence, then hang up
You do not have to win a debate with a trained scammer. Use one of the lines below and end the call.
Do not use “redial” or the number they give you
If you call back the number they used, you may reach the same scammer. Callers can also keep the line open so that your “new” call connects to them.
Wait, or switch phones
Scammers can sometimes hold a line open. Use a different phone if you can, or wait a few minutes and make sure you get a fresh dial tone before calling out.
Call the organization using a number you found yourself
Use the number on the back of your bank card, inside your banking app, on a statement, or on the organization’s official website. Not from a text, email or the caller.
Tell someone
Mention the call to a family member, friend or colleague. Talking to a person you trust breaks the spell of urgency.
A real bank employee will say, “Of course, please call us back on the number on your card.” A scammer will argue, stress the urgency, get angry or try to keep you on the line. The reaction is your answer.
How to verify who is calling
| They claim to be | Verify by |
|---|---|
| Your bank | Calling the number on your card or in the bank’s official app. Check recent transactions in the app. |
| The police | Calling the police on their official number (Dubai 901, Abu Dhabi Aman 800 2626). Real police do not ask for payment or card details. |
| The Central Bank or a regulator | Searching the regulator’s official website. Banking staff and regulators never ask for card numbers or PINs. |
| A tax or benefits agency | Logging in to the agency’s official portal, or calling the number on its website. Look for official letters. |
| Immigration, visa or ID authority | Using official apps and websites, such as the UAE government portal (u.ae) and the relevant authority’s own site. |
| A courier or customs | Tracking the parcel in the courier’s own app, or contacting the company through its official site. |
| Tech support or a subscription | Logging in to your account on the company’s official site. Never install software at a caller’s request. |
Our guide on checking if a website is legit shows how to confirm an official site, and checking if your email was in a data breach explains how scammers may have learned your details.
Texts, emails and video calls
Impersonators use every channel. The FTC’s analysis shows that phone-initiated scams have fallen while text and email contacts have risen.
Text messages
Scammers can spoof sender numbers so a fake text appears in the same thread as real messages from your bank. Do not tap links. Open your banking app instead. See fake text message scams.
Emails
Check the sender’s address and the web address for inconsistencies, such as doubled letters or a free email service. Go to the official site yourself.
Video calls
Dubai Police have flagged live video calls by fraudsters posing as police officers. A uniform and an office backdrop prove nothing. End the call and verify. See how to tell if a video is AI-generated.
Voice clones
Some scammers now use AI voices. Never rely on how someone sounds. Set a code word with family, as explained in our family safe word guide.
Where to report
United States
- ReportFraud.ftc.gov for any impostor scam
- ic3.gov if money was lost online. The FBI’s 2025 report counted about 32,000 government impersonation complaints with losses of roughly $798 million, according to a published analysis of the report.
- The real organization that was impersonated, using its official contact details
United Arab Emirates
- Dubai: the eCrime platform, or a police station, or 901
- Abu Dhabi: the Aman service on 800 2626, or SMS 2828
- Your bank, on its official number
Phone numbers and procedures can change. Confirm them on official websites.
If you live in the UAE
- No OTP over the phone, ever. Dubai Police say banks and official entities will never request it over the phone.
- Treat video calls from “police” as scams. Authorities have flagged this tactic. Hang up, then verify through 901 or the eCrime platform.
- Be careful with “Central Bank” calls. Abu Dhabi Police have warned that callers pose as the Central Bank and ask for confidential financial information. Banking officials never ask for card numbers or PINs.
- Be wary of investment offers that misuse the names and logos of well-known financial institutions. Dubai Police have also warned about these and arrested suspects from gangs linked to similar schemes. Our guide on fake investment platforms explains how to check a firm.
- Check official apps first. Your bank’s app and the UAE government portal show what is real. If it is not there, it is not real.
Protect your family and your team
- Talk to older relatives. Share the “never” list and the lines for hanging up. Practice once.
- Put the bank’s real number on the fridge or in their phone contacts as “Bank – real.”
- Agree a family rule: nobody sends money after a phone call without telling another family member first.
- For businesses, require a call-back on a known number and two approvals for any payment request.
- Keep devices secure. Strong passwords, two-factor login and software updates make every scam harder.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if a call from my bank is real?
You cannot tell from the call itself. Hang up and call your bank back on the number on your card or in its official app. Real banks never ask for your OTP, PIN or password.
Can scammers fake the phone number of my bank?
Yes. Caller ID spoofing is common, so a number that matches your bank, the police or a government office proves nothing. Always call back on a number you find yourself.
What should I say to hang up on a scammer?
Say, “I will call my bank back on the number on my card,” or “I do not discuss accounts by phone.” Then end the call. You do not need to argue or explain.
Would the police or a government agency ask for payment by gift card or crypto?
Never. Anyone who demands gift cards, cryptocurrency, wire transfers or payment apps is a scammer.
I gave the caller my OTP. What now?
Call your bank immediately on its official number, tell them exactly what you shared, and ask them to secure the account and review recent activity. Then report the call to the police.
Why do scammers say my money is in danger?
It is a pressure tactic. The caller wants you to move money to a “safe account” that the scammer controls. No real institution will ever ask you to do this.
Where do I report an impersonation scam in the UAE?
Contact your bank first, then report to Dubai Police through the eCrime platform or 901, or to the Aman service in Abu Dhabi on 800 2626.
Save the real number now
Put your bank’s official number in your contacts today, so you never have to search for it during a scare.
Sources
- Techlicious: Imposter scam losses (FTC data released June 2026)
- FTC Data Spotlight: Imposter scams (April 2024)
- Gulf News: Dubai Police alert, beware of scams and protect your information (December 2025)
- Gulf News: Abu Dhabi Police warn of scammers purporting to be from the UAE Central Bank (2021)
- ADIB: How to spot bank fraud
- SlowMist: Analysis of the FBI’s 2025 Internet Crime Report · ReportFraud.ftc.gov
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