In Dubai, the Road Transport Authority (RTA) has issued a warning regarding fraudulent marketing campaigns involving the sale of fake Nol cards to customers.
An investigation by Khaleej Times found deceptive websites imitating the RTA's platform in order to defraud individuals who wish to top up their smart cards.
The RTA said: "RTA urges its valued customers, users of public transport and NOL cards, to be wary of deceptive marketing campaigns that exploit digital services."
Additionally, the RTA has raised concerns about the sale of counterfeit Nol cards at nominal prices, deceptive practices when topping up credit, and the collection of unauthorised customer data.
"RTA strongly advises exercising caution and vigilance when dealing with such campaigns by only using RTA services, such as the website (rta.ae), ticket offices, vending machines, and applications (RTA Dubai and Nol Pay).
A worrying trend has emerged in recent years, with several people losing significant amounts of money because of counterfeit RTA websites. Dubai resident Mohammad Salman lost Dh1,051 to one such fraudulent website while trying to recharge his Nol card with Dh10.
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The problem is compounded by the fact that the top four results of a Google search for 'Nol recharge' are all deceptive websites. When users click on these sites, they are redirected to spoofed landing pages that ask for sensitive information including Nol tag IDs, email addresses, and recharge amounts. When people unwittingly follow through with the process, they are led to confirm the payment, creating the illusion of legitimacy.
In a rush, Salman confessed that he didn't see the amount because he copied the OTP from the payment window. Despite realizing that Dh1,051 had been deducted instead of Dh30, he initially thought he had mistakenly added extra credit to his smart card. "I thought I wouldn't have to top my card for some time," he said.
The fact that deceptive platforms dominate search results underscores the importance of heightened awareness and caution.