Authorities have repeatedly urged residents not to share their bank card details, PIN numbers or one-time passwords (OTPs) with anyone, regardless of the reason.
A Dubai misdemeanours court has sentenced a European woman to one month in jail after finding her guilty of using another person’s bank card without permission to withdraw money.
The charges were filed under the UAE’s Federal Decree-Law No. 34 of 2021 on Combating Rumours and Cybercrimes, which criminalises the unauthorised use of credit or debit cards, electronic payment methods, or related data to obtain money, property or services without the owner’s consent.
Court records show that the woman deliberately accessed and used another person’s payment card details to carry out unauthorised financial transactions for her own benefit.
The court found the evidence sufficient to establish that the transactions were carried out without the cardholder’s knowledge or authorisation.
In its ruling, the court sentenced the defendant to one month in jail, imposed a fine of Dh18,750—equivalent to the amount unlawfully obtained—ordered the confiscation of the mobile phone used in the offence, and directed that she be deported from the UAE after serving her prison sentence.
The judgement underscores the UAE’s strict stance on combating electronic payment fraud and protecting consumers from financial crimes involving digital payment systems.
Authorities have repeatedly urged residents never to share bank card details, PIN numbers or one-time passwords (OTPs) with anyone, regardless of the reason.
They also advise customers to report suspicious transactions immediately and contact their banks if they suspect their payment information has been compromised.
Banks further encourage customers to enable instant transaction alerts, regularly review account activity, use secure payment platforms, and avoid storing sensitive financial data on unsecured devices or websites.
With digital and contactless payments becoming increasingly common across the UAE, officials continue to stress the importance of protecting personal financial information to reduce the risk of fraud and identity theft.
The ruling serves as a reminder that unauthorised use of another person’s payment card or electronic payment data is treated as a serious criminal offence under UAE law, carrying penalties that may include imprisonment, fines, and deportation for expatriates.
