UAE authorities are cautioning residents about a growing wave of deepfake fraud, where criminals use artificial intelligence to create convincing videos or audio that falsely portray government officials and attempt to deceive members of the public.
UAE Labour Ministry Alerts Residents to Deepfake Scams Posing as Government Officials.
The Ministry has urged residents across the UAE to remain vigilant and follow essential safety measures to safeguard their personal information, financial details and funds from potential scams, fraudulent requests and other forms of online deception.
UAE Residents Urged to Stay Alert as Deepfake Scams Target the Public
Residents across the UAE are being advised to exercise greater caution following warnings about a growing form of digital fraud involving deepfake technology. Criminals are increasingly able to produce realistic-looking videos, photographs and voice recordings that can make it appear as though messages have come directly from government departments or their employees.
The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) has highlighted the risk and urged members of the public not to rely solely on appearances when deciding whether a digital message is genuine.
Advances in artificial intelligence have made it easier for fraudsters to manipulate visual and audio content. A fake recording can be designed to resemble the voice of a real person, while an altered video can make it appear that an official is speaking or making a particular announcement.
For residents receiving such content, this can make it difficult to immediately distinguish between legitimate government communication and an attempt at fraud.
MOHRE has therefore encouraged people to take additional steps to confirm the authenticity of suspicious messages before responding, sharing information or carrying out any requested transaction.
The warning is particularly important when a message creates a sense of urgency. Fraudsters may attempt to pressure recipients into acting immediately by claiming that a payment is required, personal information must be updated or an important procedure needs to be completed.
Such tactics are designed to reduce the amount of time a person spends questioning the message.
How Deepfake Fraud Can Work
Deepfake technology uses artificial intelligence and other digital tools to manipulate or generate media. While the technology has legitimate applications, criminals can also use it to create deceptive content.
According to MOHRE, scammers may rely on several types of fabricated media when attempting to impersonate ministry officials or employees.
These can include:
Fabricated videos: Edited or AI-generated footage may be created to make it appear that a government representative is delivering a message.
Artificial voice recordings: A scammer may use technology to imitate or reproduce aspects of an individual’s voice and create a recording designed to sound authentic.
Manipulated images: Photographs or other visual material can be altered or generated to give the impression that the content is connected to an official source.
The material may be presented using government-related names, photographs, logos or other details intended to make the communication appear credible.
A recipient might therefore see a familiar-looking official, hear a convincing voice or receive an image that appears to have a direct connection to MOHRE.
However, visual or audio realism does not by itself establish that the communication is genuine.
Why These Messages Can Be Convincing
Traditional scams often contain obvious warning signs, such as unusual spelling, suspicious addresses or unrealistic promises. Deepfake-based fraud can be more difficult to identify because artificial intelligence can be used to make the communication appear more polished and believable.
A fabricated video may contain a person who appears to speak naturally. Similarly, an artificial voice may sound sufficiently familiar to persuade someone that the message came from a legitimate employee.
Fraudsters can combine these techniques with other information gathered about their targets.
For example, a scam message could be designed around a person’s employment situation or a supposed government procedure. By making the communication appear relevant to the recipient, criminals may increase the likelihood that the person will respond.
The use of urgency can make the deception even more effective.
A recipient may be told that an account will be suspended, a document must be submitted immediately or a payment needs to be completed within a short period.
The intention is to encourage the person to react before checking whether the request is authentic.
Personal and Financial Information at Risk
One of the main concerns surrounding these scams is the potential loss of sensitive information.
A fraudulent message could ask a recipient to provide personal details, identification information, banking data, passwords or other confidential material.
In other cases, scammers may attempt to direct people to websites or online forms where information can be collected.
Some messages may also contain links that appear to lead to official government services. A recipient who assumes the message is legitimate may click without independently checking the destination.
Once a person provides sensitive information, criminals could potentially use it for further fraudulent activity.
Financial loss is another potential consequence.
A fake official may claim that a fee, fine, service charge or other payment is required. The recipient could then be instructed to transfer money or provide financial information.
This is why residents have been encouraged to verify suspicious requests before taking any action.
Do Not Trust a Message Simply Because It Looks Official
One of the key points in the warning is that sophisticated appearance should not automatically be treated as proof of authenticity.
A video can look genuine and still be fabricated.
A voice can sound familiar and still be artificially generated.
An image can appear official and still have been manipulated.
Residents are therefore encouraged to consider the source of the communication and verify information through trusted channels rather than relying on the content of the message alone.
This approach is particularly important when a communication asks for sensitive information or money.
If a message appears unusual, recipients should take time to investigate it rather than responding immediately.
Watch Out for Pressure Tactics
A common feature of fraudulent communication is the attempt to create panic or urgency.
Scammers may tell recipients that they have only a short period to complete an action. The message may suggest that failing to respond could lead to penalties, loss of access or another negative consequence.
The purpose of such language is often to make people act before they have an opportunity to verify the claim.
Residents can reduce this risk by slowing down and independently checking the information.
Instead of clicking on a link contained in a suspicious message, users can access official government services through trusted channels and check whether the claimed request actually exists.
Taking a few extra moments to verify a communication can help prevent potentially serious consequences.
Fake Government Communication
Government agencies are often attractive targets for impersonation because people are accustomed to receiving official notices concerning employment, residency, documentation and other important matters.
Fraudsters can exploit that familiarity by pretending to represent a government department.
In the case of MOHRE, a fake message could be designed to appear relevant to employees, employers or other individuals who interact with the ministry.
The communication may use official terminology or references to genuine government services in an effort to appear credible.
However, the presence of legitimate-looking information does not necessarily mean that the message itself is genuine.
Criminals can copy publicly available information and combine it with fabricated material to create convincing scams.
What Residents Should Check
Before acting on an unexpected video, recording or image claiming to come from a government official, residents should consider several basic questions.
First, they should examine how the message was received and whether the communication channel is one they normally associate with the organisation.
They should also consider whether the request is consistent with the type of communication the ministry would ordinarily send.
If a message unexpectedly asks for confidential information or money, that should prompt additional caution.
Residents should avoid assuming that a communication is authentic simply because it contains a government logo, a familiar name or a convincing photograph.
The safest approach is to verify the information independently using trusted official sources.
Avoid Sharing Sensitive Details
Personal information should not be provided simply because someone claims to represent a government organisation.
Residents should be particularly careful with information that could potentially be used to access accounts, confirm identity or facilitate financial transactions.
This includes banking information, passwords, security codes and other confidential credentials.
If an unfamiliar person or message requests such details, residents should first determine whether the request is legitimate.
People should also be cautious about entering sensitive information into websites reached through links contained in unexpected messages.
Instead, independently navigating to a trusted official service can provide an additional layer of protection.
Be Careful With Suspicious Links
Fraudsters may use deepfake content to attract attention and then direct their targets towards malicious websites.
For example, a convincing video could instruct a viewer to click a link to complete a supposed government procedure.
The deepfake itself may therefore be only one part of a wider scam.
The final objective could be to collect personal information, obtain login credentials or persuade the victim to make a payment.
Residents should therefore examine links carefully and avoid opening unexpected links simply because the accompanying message appears to come from an official source.
When an online service is genuinely required, accessing it through a trusted government website or official application can help reduce the risk of being redirected to a fraudulent platform.
Verify Before You Act
The central lesson from the warning is straightforward: authenticity should be checked independently.
Technology has made it possible to produce digital material that looks and sounds increasingly realistic. As these tools become more sophisticated, people may need to rely less on their immediate visual or auditory impression and more on independent verification.
A convincing video is not necessarily an authentic video.
A familiar voice is not necessarily proof that the person in question actually made the recording.
Likewise, an official-looking image does not establish that the material originated from the government department it claims to represent.
Taking the time to confirm information through trusted sources can help residents avoid falling victim to fraudulent requests.
A Changing Digital Fraud Landscape
Deepfake scams represent another development in the broader evolution of online fraud.
Criminals have historically adapted their methods as communication technology has changed. Emails, text messages, fake websites and social media accounts have all been used to impersonate individuals and organisations.
Artificial intelligence provides fraudsters with additional tools that can make impersonation attempts more convincing.
This means that traditional signs of fraud may no longer be enough in every situation.
Residents may need to consider not only what a message says, but also where it came from, what it is asking them to do and whether the request can be independently confirmed.
Staying Vigilant
The warning from MOHRE serves as a reminder that residents should remain cautious when dealing with unexpected digital communication.
People should avoid making decisions based solely on a video, recording or image, particularly when the material involves financial transactions or requests for sensitive personal information.
Any communication that creates unnecessary pressure should be approached carefully.
Rather than responding immediately, recipients can pause, investigate the claim and use trusted channels to determine whether the request is genuine.
This is especially important when the message claims to represent a government official or employee.
As deepfake technology continues to improve, the ability to recognise manipulated content may become increasingly difficult for ordinary users. Independent verification therefore remains an important safeguard.
Residents who encounter suspicious communication should avoid sharing confidential information or sending money until the source and purpose of the request have been confirmed.
The broader message is that technology can make a fraudulent communication look authentic, but it cannot replace the need for proper verification.
By remaining cautious, checking information through trusted channels and refusing to act under unnecessary pressure, UAE residents can reduce their exposure to deepfake-enabled fraud and protect both their personal data and finances.
How to Stay Safe From Deepfake Scams
As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly capable of producing realistic images, videos and audio, residents need to be more cautious when dealing with unexpected digital communications. A message that appears to come from a government department may not necessarily be genuine, even if the person shown in a video looks familiar or the voice sounds authentic.
The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) has urged residents to take sensible precautions whenever they receive an unexpected communication that claims to represent the ministry.
The warning is particularly relevant when a message asks for personal information, financial details, a payment or immediate action. Rather than responding straight away, residents are encouraged to pause and establish whether the communication is legitimate.
Do Not Rely on Appearances Alone
One of the most important precautions is to avoid treating realistic-looking content as proof that it is genuine.
Advances in artificial intelligence allow criminals to create convincing videos and audio recordings that can imitate real people. A fabricated video may show what appears to be a government representative speaking directly to the viewer, while an artificial voice recording may sound remarkably similar to a real official.
This means that simply watching a video or listening to a voice message is not enough to establish its authenticity.
Residents should consider the circumstances surrounding the communication and ask whether the request makes sense. If the message is unexpected or asks for sensitive information, additional verification should take place before any action is taken.
Check Through Official MOHRE Channels
When residents receive an announcement or request that claims to come from MOHRE, they should verify it through the ministry’s recognised communication channels.
This is particularly important when the message contains information that could affect employment, documentation, payments or other important matters.
Instead of relying on contact details, websites or links provided in the suspicious communication, residents should independently locate the ministry’s official channels and use those to confirm the information.
Independent verification makes it harder for scammers to control the information being used to check their own fraudulent claims.
If a suspicious message says that a particular payment must be made, for example, residents should not simply follow the instructions contained in that message. They should first determine through an official source whether such a payment is actually required.
Keep Personal Information Private
Residents should also be careful about sharing personal information in response to unexpected calls, messages, videos or emails.
Scammers may attempt to obtain information that could later be used for identity theft, financial fraud or other forms of deception.
A request can appear convincing while still being fraudulent.
People should therefore avoid providing confidential information unless they have independently established that the request is legitimate.
The same caution applies to banking information and other financial details.
If someone claiming to represent a government department unexpectedly asks for sensitive financial information, residents should stop and verify the request before providing anything.
Think Carefully Before Sharing Banking Details
Financial information deserves particular protection.
Fraudsters may use convincing impersonation techniques to create the impression that a payment or financial action is urgently required.
A person may be told that a fee needs to be paid immediately or that their account could be affected if they do not comply.
These claims should not automatically be accepted.
Residents should independently confirm the request through trusted official channels before transferring money or providing financial details.
If the request cannot be verified, it is safer not to proceed.
Examine Links Before Opening Them
Another important precaution is to be careful with links received through unexpected messages.
A scammer may use a convincing video or voice recording to persuade someone that a message is official and then direct the recipient to a website.
The website itself may be designed to look legitimate.
It could contain government-style branding, familiar terminology or other visual elements intended to make the page appear trustworthy.
However, these features can also be copied or manipulated.
Residents should therefore avoid clicking on suspicious links simply because the accompanying message appears authentic.
When access to a government service is required, users should independently navigate to the relevant official platform rather than relying on a link supplied by an unknown or unverified sender.
Be Wary of Urgent Requests
A sense of urgency is another warning sign that residents should consider.
Scammers may attempt to pressure people into acting immediately by claiming that a deadline is approaching or that failing to respond could result in a penalty or another problem.
The objective is often to prevent the recipient from taking enough time to investigate the claim.
Residents should not allow an unexpected message to pressure them into making a quick decision.
If a request is legitimate, there should generally be an opportunity to verify it through an appropriate official channel.
Taking a few moments to check the information can help prevent potentially serious mistakes.
What to Do If You Are Unsure
If a resident has doubts about whether a video, voice recording, call or message is genuine, the safest approach is not to respond until the source has been confirmed.
MOHRE has advised residents who are uncertain about a communication to contact the ministry’s Contact Center and verify the authenticity of the message or the individual claiming to represent the ministry.
This provides residents with a way to check whether the communication is legitimate before they disclose information or take any requested action.
People should avoid attempting to verify the message by replying directly to the suspicious sender.
If the sender is a scammer, continuing the conversation could provide additional opportunities for manipulation.
Instead, residents can use independently obtained official contact details to make their enquiries.
Do Not Let a Familiar Face Create False Confidence
One of the challenges associated with deepfake technology is that people naturally tend to trust familiar faces and voices.
A message becomes particularly persuasive when it appears to feature someone who looks like a government official or sounds like a person the recipient recognises.
However, this familiarity should not replace verification.
Artificial intelligence can be used to manipulate photographs, create realistic video footage and reproduce aspects of a person’s voice.
Consequently, residents should focus on confirming the source and legitimacy of the communication rather than relying solely on what they see or hear.
Check Before Taking Action
A useful principle for dealing with suspicious communications is to verify first and act later.
Before clicking a link, sharing information, sending money or following instructions, residents should establish where the communication came from and whether the request is genuine.
This is especially important when the message involves sensitive matters.
If there is uncertainty, residents should stop the interaction and seek confirmation through an official channel.
A short delay caused by verification is far less likely to cause harm than acting on a fraudulent request.
Protect Your Digital Identity
Personal information can be valuable to criminals, which is why residents should treat requests for sensitive data with caution.
Information provided during a scam may potentially be combined with other publicly available details to create more convincing fraudulent activity.
People should therefore avoid disclosing unnecessary information to unknown individuals or unverified sources.
This includes information that may appear harmless in isolation but could become useful when combined with other personal details.
Maintaining control over personal information is an important part of reducing exposure to digital fraud.
Technology Is Not a Guarantee of Authenticity
The increasing sophistication of AI-generated content means that traditional assumptions about digital communication may no longer always be reliable.
In the past, people might have considered a video or voice recording difficult to fake. Modern technology has changed that.
A convincing appearance or realistic voice can be produced without the real individual actually creating the content.
This is why official verification has become particularly important.
The ministry’s warning highlights the need for residents to treat unexpected digital communications carefully, particularly when those communications involve requests for information or money.
Use Trusted Sources
When checking whether information is genuine, residents should rely on trusted official sources rather than information supplied within the suspicious message itself.
For example, if a message contains a telephone number, website address or other contact information, residents should independently confirm those details before using them.
This prevents scammers from controlling both the original message and the verification process.
The same principle applies to links.
Rather than clicking on a link received unexpectedly, users can locate the relevant government service independently through a trusted source.
Do Not Respond Under Pressure
Scammers often rely on quick reactions.
When people feel worried or rushed, they may be less likely to question what they are being told.
Residents should therefore be particularly cautious when a communication combines an urgent demand with a request for personal information, payment or access to an account.
If a message creates pressure to act immediately, stopping to verify it can be an important protective step.
There is no need to allow an unknown sender to dictate the speed at which a decision is made.
Report or Verify Suspicious Communications
When residents encounter questionable communication claiming to come from MOHRE, they should avoid engaging with the sender until the message has been verified.
If clarification is required, the ministry’s Contact Center can be used to determine whether the communication or the individual behind it is genuine.
This can help distinguish legitimate government communication from an impersonation attempt.
Residents should also remain cautious even if the suspicious material contains accurate information.
Scammers can incorporate genuine facts into fraudulent messages to make them appear more credible.
The presence of correct information does not automatically establish that the communication originated from MOHRE.
Protecting Money and Personal Data
The consequences of falling for an impersonation scam can extend beyond the initial interaction.
A person who provides personal information could potentially face further fraudulent attempts, while someone who transfers money may find it difficult to recover the funds.
For this reason, residents should treat unexpected financial requests with particular care.
Before making a payment, they should establish why the payment is being requested, who is requesting it and whether the requirement can be independently confirmed.
Similarly, before sharing personal information, residents should determine whether the organisation genuinely requires those details and whether the communication is authentic.
A Simple Rule to Remember
The most important principle is straightforward: do not trust digital content simply because it looks or sounds real.
A convincing face, familiar voice or professional-looking message can be recreated using modern technology.
Verification remains the stronger safeguard.
Residents who receive an unexpected communication claiming to be from MOHRE should take time to check the information through an official source before responding.
They should avoid sharing confidential information, transferring money or clicking on questionable links until the communication has been confirmed.
Staying Ahead of Evolving Scams
Digital fraud continues to evolve as criminals gain access to new technologies.
Deepfakes are one example of how artificial intelligence can be used to make traditional impersonation scams more convincing.
As these techniques develop, awareness and careful verification will become increasingly important.
Residents do not need to become experts in artificial intelligence to protect themselves. Simple habits can make a meaningful difference: pause before responding, check the source, avoid sharing sensitive information, examine links carefully and use official channels to confirm unexpected requests.
If something does not seem right, residents should not feel pressured to proceed.
The Ministry’s Key Message
MOHRE’s warning reinforces the importance of remaining cautious when dealing with digital communications that claim to represent government officials or employees.
Technology can now make artificial videos, images and voices appear remarkably authentic, but that does not make the underlying message legitimate.
Residents are therefore encouraged to independently verify suspicious communications and seek confirmation from the ministry when they have doubts.
If an unexpected message asks for personal information, banking details, a payment or immediate action, residents should stop and check before doing anything.
Using official channels to confirm the identity of the sender and the legitimacy of the request remains one of the simplest ways to reduce the risk of fraud.
Ultimately, staying safe online is not about recognising every deepfake perfectly. It is about developing the habit of questioning unexpected requests and verifying them before taking action.
By refusing to rely solely on what they see or hear, protecting confidential information, checking links carefully and contacting MOHRE when necessary, UAE residents can take practical steps to protect themselves from increasingly sophisticated impersonation scams.
