The Real Estate Security Gap: Responding to the Abu Dhabi Police Alert on Rental Scams and Luxury Property Fraud

The Abu Dhabi Police have issued a crucial alert warning the public about a significant rise in sophisticated rental scams and fake real estate deals. This alert signals an escalating threat where organised fraud networks are targeting the UAE's robust property market, exploiting the speed of transactions and the volume of high-value deposits.

For Family Offices, Corporate Real Estate Divisions, and Ultra-High-Net-Worth Individuals securing luxury rentals or multi-million-dirham investments, this threat is no longer theoretical. A lapse in due diligence can result in the immediate loss of substantial deposits, exposure to prolonged legal disputes, and reputational damage.

Conflict Advisory Group offers a streamlined, two-phase defence against this threat: Forensic Due Diligence to stop the fraud before payment, and Rapid Asset Recovery Intelligence to trace and secure capital when a breach occurs.

1. The Mechanisms of High-Value Real Estate Fraud

The sophisticated scams highlighted by the police alert rarely rely on cheap tricks; they use professional documentation and digital exploitation to target lucrative transactions.

• The Ownership Mirage: Fraudsters produce falsified Power of Attorney documents or title deeds, impersonating the legitimate owner or a real estate firm to collect large security deposits and advance rent.
• Wire Transfer Ambush (BEC): Scammers infiltrate email chains (Business Email Compromise), changing banking instructions at the critical last minute and diverting legitimate deposits to a fraudster-controlled account.
• Non-Existent Intermediaries: Organised rings establish temporary corporate fronts to draw in victims for properties that are either already occupied, off-market, or do not exist, focusing solely on harvesting deposits.

2. Phase One: Forensic Due Diligence (Prevention)

Protecting high-value real estate capital requires moving beyond standard paperwork checks to validating the integrity of the people involved. Our Due Diligence focuses on exposing the true identities and the integrity of the counter-parties.

• Ultimate Beneficial Owner (UBO) Verification: We look beyond the official paperwork to confirm the true owner of the property and the ultimate controllers of any intermediary corporate structure involved in the lease or sale. This exposes fraudulent shell corporations.
• Agent and Broker Vetting: We conduct enhanced background checks and licensing verification for all agents and brokers to ensure they have the legitimate authority to represent the property and that they are not fronting for a criminal operation.

3. Phase Two: Post-Incident Asset Recovery (Reaction)

If a deposit is lost to a sophisticated scam, speed is paramount. Our integrated investigative capability immediately transitions into tracing and recovery intelligence.

• Rapid Fund Tracing: We follow the trail of the lost deposit across banking systems and international jurisdictions, providing the forensic intelligence necessary for legal counsel to seek urgent freezing orders.
• Litigation Support: We compile court-admissible evidence—including banking logs, communication records, and forensic reports—to build a decisive case for civil recovery against the perpetrators, minimising financial loss.

The Abu Dhabi Police alert is a vital reminder that sophisticated fraud is now an established risk in high-value real estate. For Conflict Advisory Group, protecting property capital is about deploying Forensic Due Diligence to confirm integrity before the transaction closes, and providing Rapid Asset Recovery Intelligence when fraud is detected. We provide the essential security layer that protects your wealth against the rising tide of real estate fraud.

To secure your next high-value property transaction or to recover lost capital due to real estate fraud, contact Conflict Advisory Group for a confidential assessment.