Court Orders Compensation After Student Falls Victim to IELTS Certification Scam

The Al Ain Civil, Commercial and Administrative Court has ordered two individuals to repay a student Dh2,900 after they fraudulently convinced him that they could obtain an IELTS certificate on his behalf. The court also granted the student Dh1,000 in compensation for the harm he suffered.

Case documents show that the student filed a claim demanding the return of the Dh2,900 he had transferred, in addition to Dh70,000 in damages and associated legal costs. He stated that the defendants had used information technology to deceive him, falsely asserting that they could secure an IELTS certificate. After transferring the funds, he realised he had been duped. Both men were subsequently convicted in a criminal case and fined Dh10,000 each.

In its ruling, the court held that the criminal conviction proved the defendants had unlawfully taken the claimant’s money, confirming his right to recover the Dh2,900. On compensation, the court found that the student had suffered direct harm due to their fraudulent conduct, including financial loss and psychological distress such as anxiety over his funds. It concluded that the damage was clearly linked to the defendants’ actions, justifying the compensation awarded.