Rent scam on Jumeirah Village Circle unit

Two Uzbeks allegedly announced a flat to let on a website and conned a tenant of Dh65,000 after claiming ownership of the flat using forged documents, the Dubai Criminal Court heard.

The victim, SM, 27, sales executive was looking for flat and found a flat in Jumeirah Village Circle advertised on a website.

On calling the number given in the ad, a woman who claimed that her name is Sameera answered the call.

The so-called Sameera was wearing ‘abaya’ and ‘niqab’ - face cover – and was at the site along with a man who claimed his name was ‘Sabahuddin’.

‘Sabahuddin’ does not speak English or Arabic, but claimed the ownership of the flat and presented his passport along with ownership certificate, via Sameera who was translating.

After viewing the flat, the victim, who was accompanied with a friend, agreed to rent it, so she paid Dh3,500 as guarantee and Sabahuddin issued a receipt.

The two agreed to sign the lease on January 6.

On the day, an employee called Julia received the victim and told her that Sameera and Sabahuddin are on their way.

As the two did not show off, the victim asked Julia to check with them.

Sameera claimed that they had a traffic accident and will be late.

Later, Sameera asked the victim to meet in a restaurant in the Marina area.

The victim accompanied Julia to the restaurant and the lease was signed after the payment of Dh65,000 for rent, in cash.

On the following day, the victim moved to have the bills in her name and contacted Sameera to check with her on the formalities.

Sameera switched off her mobile phone and stopped answering the victim’s queries.

Checking the situation with the building’s management, the victim found out that she was not the only one who was subject to fraud.

The victim lodged a complaint with the police who arrested the so-called Sameera -  her real identity is GA, 34.

Police found out that her compatriot used a fake name and his real identity is SS, 26, and he is still at large.                                                                                                                   

SS, is accused of forging the photocopy of a flat ownership certificate, using a fake name and swindling SM of Dh65,000.

The woman is accused of helping and assisting SS in committing the crime.

The court will reconvene on December 6.


 

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