Dubai Police warns residents of fake donation messages

Dubai - Legal action will be taken against people who publish these messages

The Dubai Police have appealed to the people not to republish or respond to messages that seek donations and make one believe that the money will be used to pay off the debts of those languishing in prisons during Ramadan. 
Major General Khalil Ibrahim Al Mansouri, Assistant Commander-in-Chief for Criminal Investigation Department Affairs, these messages put up on What'sApp and social media give one the impression that the senders of these represent certain charity organisations that will facilitate in reaching the donations to the purported beneficiaries, including prisoners, widows and orphans.
"These are all farce. Contact numbers are mentioned on these messages, but most of them are fake or closed," he underlined.
Desist from sharing and spreading these messages, Al Mansouri said, while warning that strict legal action will be taken against people who publish these sham messages.
He added many messages are also directed towards women whose husbands are in prison. They give an assurance that they are there to assist them.
Al Mansouri pointed out that when women respond to these messages, they are asked to send a copy of the passport or a personal photo or copies of a court decision with all the details of the man in prison. This information can later be misused by tampering the documents, he pointed out. 
People should give charities to bodies that are licensed by the state, while checking the veracity of the all the messages on social media, he added.

• UAE
• Dubai