The Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) alerts the financial services community and the public to a scam in which the DFSA was impersonated.

The scammers sent a fake email (the Fake Email) to an individual requesting ‘synchronisation of funds’ by demanding a payment to be made to a bank account provided by the scammers and to send a copy of the bank statement to verify that the payment has been made. The scammers falsely claim that the Fake Email has been sent by the DFSA’s Finance Department.

In the Fake Email, the scammers fraudulently:

• use the fake email address: ‘[email protected]’
• claim to be from the DFSA’s Finance Department;
• use a “bank account” which has no connection with the DFSA;
• makes reference to breaches of ‘Federal Laws of the Russian Federation No.115-FZ, No.161-FZ, No.173-FZ regulating international settlement and currency options’ if such laws exist, they are not connected to the legal framework under which the DFSA operates;
• use an email disclaimer notice which is not used by the DFSA; and
• uses a fake telephone number which has no connection with the DFSA.

In addition, the Fake Email:

• claims to be from ‘support service’ of the DFSA which is not a legitimate department of the DFSA; and
• uses the address and fax number of the DFSA without permission or authority.

The DFSA strongly advises you not to respond to any communications regarding this scam, and under no circumstances should you send or give any money to any party connected to the scam.

The DFSA has a page on its website dedicated to alerts which has issued about scams.  All alerts issued by the DFSA may be accessed by going to Alerts

The DFSA has also issued warnings and guidance about the common types of scams perpetrated on consumers. For more information on these scams, please go to How to avoid being scammed

The DFSA encourages consumers to refer to the list of regulated Firms and Authorised Individuals licensed by the DFSA that is available on the DFSA's Public Register

If you have any concerns about the authenticity of any correspondence or documents that purport to be issued by the DIFC, DFSA or a DFSA-regulated Firm, you should direct your concerns to the DIFC on Tel: +971 4 362 2222 and to the DFSA via the DFSA Complaints function on Complaints