An Abu Dhabi resident has secured a legal victory after being duped into transferring Dh42,500 to a fraudulent bank account. The incident occurred during a lease renewal when the tenant received a message from an individual posing as a property company employee. Trusting the instructions, the tenant sent the funds, only to realize later that the account was illegitimate. Following a successful criminal conviction against the perpetrator, the victim pursued a civil lawsuit to recover his financial losses and seek additional compensation for the stress caused by the ordeal.

The Abu Dhabi Family, Civil and Administrative Claims Court ruled in favor of the tenant, ordering the defendant to return the full Dh42,500. By relying on the established findings from the preceding criminal case, the judge underscored that the fraudulent nature of the transaction was already legally settled. This outcome serves as a stern reminder for tenants to always verify payment details directly with their property management firm or landlord before finalizing any transactions, as digital impersonation scams continue to pose a significant risk to renters.