Dubai: A Dubai-based doctor was left in shock after discovering that her credit card had been used for 14 unauthorised transactions amounting to over Dh120,000 while she was performing surgery.
The fraudulent activity occurred across multiple locations in Dubai and Sharjah, despite her card never being digitised or shared.
Dr. Anita Singh (name changed on request), a premier customer of an international bank, said the transactions took place over seven hours, with several exceeding Dh10,000 at major electronics retailers.
Alarmingly, four transactions were processed even after her card’s limit had been reached, and two were conducted in Kuwaiti Dinars (KWD), all without requiring a one-time password (OTP).
“I was in the middle of a surgery when these transactions took place,” Dr. Singh, 60, told Khaleej Times. “The most shocking part is that my card never left my possession.”
Bank Failed to Act on Early Fraud Alert
Dr. Singh revealed that her bank flagged a fraudulent transaction early on but failed to block the card or notify her. “They identified the fraud after the second transaction but did nothing to stop it. If they suspected fraud, why didn’t they freeze my card immediately?” she questioned.
Even after reporting the fraud and requesting an immediate block, she was informed that some payments were still pending. To her disbelief, the transactions were later posted, despite her alerting the bank.
“The bank refused to provide details of the transactions and ignored my attempts to escalate the issue. My relationship manager was ineffective, and I only received a response after taking to social media,” she said.
Following persistent efforts, the bank informed Dr. Singh that the transactions had been processed via Apple Pay. However, she refuted this claim, stating, “I have never registered for Apple Pay. Apple confirmed that my card was never linked to their service. So how were these payments authorised?”
She also pointed out a contradiction in the bank’s response. “They claim Apple Pay is secure, yet they emailed me flagging a fraudulent transaction. If they suspected fraud, why did they keep approving payments instead of blocking the card?”
Bank’s Response and Legal Action
When contacted, a spokesperson for the bank stated, “We take fraud-related concerns very seriously and remain committed to protecting our customers. While we cannot comment on individual cases due to confidentiality, we conduct thorough investigations in line with regulatory requirements.”
Dr. Singh has since filed a police complaint. The bank offered her a 12-month instalment plan to repay the fraudulent charges, which she has rejected outright. “I did not authorise these transactions, so I should not have to pay for them,” she said.
Not an Isolated Incident
Dr. Singh’s ordeal is not unique. Similar cases have been reported where UAE residents found their credit cards compromised without OTP verification. An Indian expatriate, Ajoy Joseph, discovered that three credit cards had been issued in his name using a forged Emirates ID, each maxed out to Dh30,000. In another case, Ayesha Naseem’s credit card was used in Qatar despite her never leaving the UAE.
Cybersecurity experts warn that banking fraud is on the rise in the UAE, with public sector entities facing an estimated 50,000 cyber threats daily. Victims, however, often find themselves blamed instead of receiving support.
“Banks in the UAE have a duty of care to protect their customers,” said Hossam Zakaria, a legal consultant at Dubai-based HZ Legal. “Victims of financial fraud should seek legal counsel to understand their rights and explore compensation options.”
Dr. Singh now awaits the outcome of her complaint, hoping for justice and stricter security measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.
This article was created using automation technology and was thoroughly edited and fact-checked by one of our editorial staff members