Scam in United Arab EmiratesShopping
Short-changing cash customers in United Arab Emirates
How it works
A trader returns less change than you are owed. The scarcity of small coins may be used as an excuse.
Warning signs
- The change is less than the amount shown on the receipt.
- The trader says small coins are unavailable.
How to avoid it
- Check the total before handing over cash.
- Count your change before leaving.
- Use exact change when practical.
- Keep the receipt until you have checked the payment.
If it happens to you
- Move to a safe place. Avoid an argument or confrontation.
- Stop further payments and contact. Do not pay anyone who promises to recover your money for a fee.
- If a card or account is affected, contact your bank or card issuer immediately. Ask about blocking access and disputing payments.
- Save receipts, messages, screenshots, payment records and any vehicle details. Write down what happened while you remember it.
- Report fraud or theft to the police. In Dubai, call 999 if you need police attention.
- Contact your embassy or consulate if your passport was stolen or you need help replacing travel documents.
What travellers report
Posts about this scam on other sites, summarised in our words. Open one to read the original.
- TripadvisorTripadvisor attraction reviews2024Dubai Taxi - All You SHOULD Know Before Going (2026 Reviews)A traveller reports paying a taxi driver with US$50 and receiving only 36 dirhams in change instead of the approximately 110 dirhams expected.Read on Tripadvisor
- NewsEvery fils counts: Short-changing is the normGulf News reports that UAE consumers routinely lose small amounts when businesses fail to return the full change owed.Read on News
Questions
What is the short-changing cash customers scam in United Arab Emirates?
A trader returns less change than you are owed. The scarcity of small coins may be used as an excuse.
How can I spot it early?
The change is less than the amount shown on the receipt. The trader says small coins are unavailable.
How do I avoid short-changing cash customers in United Arab Emirates?
Check the total before handing over cash. Count your change before leaving. Use exact change when practical. Keep the receipt until you have checked the payment.
Where in United Arab Emirates does this happen?
Shops and traders accepting cash
How common is this scam in United Arab Emirates?
Occasional. The United Arab Emirates has low crime overall, and the scams described here are mainly shopping pressure, taxi overcharging and phone fraud. Watch for missing change, extra VAT added to a quoted price, off-meter taxi fares and unexpected calls promising money or claiming legal trouble.
Are there similar scams in United Arab Emirates?
Yes: pressure to buy in shops, high opening prices in souks, vAT added to an already quoted price.
Who can I report it to?
Police: report fraud or theft and provide any evidence you saved. In Dubai, call 999 if you need police attention. Bank or card issuer: use its official app or the contact number on your card to report unauthorised payments, block a card or ask about a dispute. Taxi booking service: if you booked through an app, report the fare problem through that booking and keep the trip record. Embassy or consulate: use its official contact details for help with a stolen passport or replacement travel documents.
What number do I call in an emergency in United Arab Emirates?
Police attention in Dubai: 999.
Reviewed by @snuck