Sharjah Court sentences three to one year in prison for fraudulent rental scheme
Three individuals convicted of using fake property advertisements and forged lease documents to defraud a tenant have been sentenced to one year imprisonment followed by deportation by Sharjah Court of Appeal.
Sharjah court jails fake rental scam trio, orders deportation
Sharjah Court of Appeal has sentenced three people to one year in prison followed by deportation after they defrauded a man by falsely claiming rights to rent out a residential unit they did not own. The court also ordered the confiscation of items seized during the investigation.
The defendants used a property advertisement posted on social media platforms to lure the victim with an attractive rental price. After the victim contacted them and inspected the apartment, he agreed to rent it and paid a portion of the rental amount while submitting the required documentation.
One of the defendants subsequently sent the victim what appeared to be an official lease contract. However, when the victim verified the document with relevant authorities, he discovered the apartment belonged to someone else and the contract information did not match official records.
Growing pattern of rental fraud
The case reflects a wider trend of rental scams across the UAE. Fraudulent property listings have surged by 15 percent in the past year, with such schemes becoming increasingly sophisticated and costing victims thousands of dirhams. In June 2026, both Abu Dhabi Police and Dubai Police issued warnings about a surge in fake chalet and holiday rental scams during the summer season, with one Dubai family losing Dh8,000 to scammers advertising properties on social media.
Scammers typically steal professional photographs and property details from legitimate rental listings, then repost them on social media platforms at below-market prices to attract victims. These schemes commonly involve requesting booking deposits, documentation fees, or insurance payments, with victims typically losing between AED 5,000 and AED 20,000 before discovering the fraud.
In September 2025, Sharjah Police arrested 13 Asian nationals in an operation called 'Shebak Al-Wahm' (The Illusion Trap) for running an organized cyber-fraud network involving fake rental schemes that operated through seven centers with specific roles assigned to each member.
Legal proceedings and sentencing
Following the victim's report, authorities launched an investigation that led to the identification and arrest of the three defendants. Sharjah Misdemeanours Court initially sentenced them to three months in prison followed by deportation and ordered the confiscation of seized items.
The Public Prosecution appealed the ruling, requesting a stricter penalty. Sharjah Court of Appeal subsequently increased the sentence to one year in prison followed by deportation while maintaining the confiscation order.
Under UAE law, foreigners convicted of felonies resulting in custodial sentences are subject to mandatory deportation after serving their prison terms, as stipulated in Article 121 of the UAE Penal Code.
Verification systems in Sharjah
In Sharjah, tenancy contracts must be registered with Sharjah Municipality for legal validity. Digital verification tools are available to tenants to authenticate rental agreements and confirm ownership through official records, which proved crucial in this case when the victim used these systems to uncover the fraud.
The victim's decision to verify the contract's authenticity through proper channels prevented further financial losses and enabled authorities to apprehend the fraudsters before they could target additional victims.
