Have you ever encountered a social media ad that appeared too good to be true? You might have fallen prey to an online scam.

The Abu Dhabi Judicial Department (ADJD) shared a story about a man who became a victim of a counterfeit concert ticket advertisement.

This man came across a social media announcement advertising tickets to his favorite singer's concert at remarkably low prices. Excited by the offer, he contacted the account that posted the promotion and inquired about purchasing the tickets.

The individuals he communicated with were well-informed about the concert, gaining the man's trust by answering his queries. They then requested him to transfer money to a specified account number and delivered his electronic tickets.

However, upon reaching the concert venue with his friends, the organizers informed him that his tickets were fraudulent and not issued by official sources. Realizing he had fallen for a scam, he had no choice but to turn back. It was then revealed that he was not the sole victim of the deceptive advertisement.

The victims of the scam collectively filed a complaint with the relevant authorities, prompting immediate action and an investigation. The authorities identified and arrested the individuals behind the fraudulent accounts, eventually referring them to court, where they were convicted of their crimes.

The ADJD had previously issued a warning regarding counterfeit social media ads promoting event tickets at unrealistically low prices. These fraudulent cases have been on the rise, with scammers luring unsuspecting customers with cheap tickets and disappearing once they've accumulated sufficient sales.

The UAE authority urges the public to exercise caution and vigilance when buying event tickets from untrustworthy sources. These scams have grown more sophisticated and may initially appear convincing, but the UAE authority advises that such offers are almost always too good to be true and often serve as a facade for unscrupulous activities.