Dubai RTA warns public against deceptive Nol card scam

Dubai's Road Transport Authority (RTA) has issued an alert to public transport users and Nol card holders in the emirate after media exposure of a deceptive Nol card scam.

The warning comes in the wake of a recent news report published by Dubai-based Khaleej Times daily which uncovered deceptive websites mimicking the RTA's platform to defraud those seeking to top up their Nol smart cards.

Nol card is a smart card that enables people to pay for the use of various RTA transport modes in Dubai with a single tap.

The warning addresses fraudulent marketing schemes that exploit unsuspecting individuals seeking to recharge their smart cards, using fake websites mimicking the RTA's platform.

Of late, several people have suffered heavy financial losses due to fake RTA websites.

In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), the RTA urged its customers to exercise caution and avoid engaging in deceptive marketing campaigns aiming to take advantage of digital service users.
The caution extends to selling counterfeit Nol cards at discounted rates, deceptive practices in credit top-ups, and unauthorized collection of customer data.

The RTA emphasized the importance of using only official channels such as the website (rta.ae), ticket offices, vending machines, and RTA Dubai and Nol pay applications.

The warning highlighted the case of Dubai resident Mohammad Salman, who lost Dh1,051 to a fraudulent website while attempting to recharge his Nol card with Dh10.

Complicating matters further, the top search results for 'Nol recharge' on Google lead users to deceptive websites. Clicking on these sites redirects users to counterfeit landing pages, soliciting sensitive information like Nol tag ID, email address, and recharge amount. Unaware of the deception, victims confirm payments, believing that the process is legitimate.

Caught in a rush, Salman admitted to overlooking the deducted amount, hastily copying the OTP from the payment window. Even upon realizing the substantial deduction, he initially believed it to be an accidental addition of extra credit to his smart card. "I thought I wouldn't have to worry about topping my card for some time."

Cyber experts emphasized the prevalence of deceptive platforms in search results, highlighting the importance of heightened awareness and caution among users.

 

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