Sharjah Misdemeanour Court Jails Man for Dh692,000 Fake iPhone Deal Fraud

A Sharjah court has sentenced a man to six months in prison for defrauding a buyer of Dh692,000 in a fake wholesale iPhone transaction, ruling that he used false commercial claims and deceptive methods to obtain the money without delivering the promised devices.

 

The verdict was issued on July 16, 2026, by the fifth misdemeanour circuit at the Sharjah Court of First Instance, which found the defendant guilty of fraud under the UAE Crimes and Punishments Law. The court also ordered him to pay judicial fees and referred the victim’s compensation claim to the competent civil court, allowing the victim to pursue financial damages.

According to prosecution records, the defendant falsely claimed that he owned and operated a mobile phone trading business and could supply 160 iPhone 17 Pro Max devices valued at Dh692,000.

Investigators said the accused created the impression that he was a legitimate electronics supplier and used the alleged false representation to convince the buyer to complete the purchase and hand over the payment.

Further investigations revealed that the defendant did not own a licensed mobile phone trading company and had no stock of the devices he claimed he could provide. He was subsequently charged with obtaining money through fraudulent means and misleading representations.

The incident reportedly took place on February 20, 2024, near Emirates Post on Jamal Abdul Nasser Street in Sharjah.

Court documents stated that after negotiations over the purchase, the buyer arrived at the agreed location carrying Dh692,000 in cash inside a laptop bag, believing he was completing a genuine commercial transaction.

The defendant allegedly received the money and told the buyer that he would collect the phones from a nearby location and return shortly. However, prosecutors said he left the area on foot and failed to deliver any of the devices.

Investigations showed that the defendant later contacted the buyer through WhatsApp and shared the location of a building in Al Nahda, asking him to wait there for the delivery. Prosecutors said the message was intended to delay the buyer and conceal the alleged fraud.

A witness who accompanied the buyer during the transaction confirmed seeing the cash being handed over and supported the victim’s account of events.

The court examined witness statements, investigation reports and other evidence before concluding that the defendant had deliberately presented himself as a genuine trader despite lacking the ability or intention to complete the transaction.

During the trial, the defendant denied the allegations and argued that the matter was a commercial dispute rather than a criminal offence.

However, the court rejected the defence argument, ruling that the case involved intentional fraud rather than a failed business transaction. It found that the defendant had obtained the money through false claims and deceptive conduct.

The court said the evidence established that the defendant had misrepresented his business status, gained the buyer’s confidence and arranged the cash handover despite having no ability to fulfil the order.

The judgment noted that his actions after receiving the money, including failing to deliver the phones and directing the buyer to another location through WhatsApp, further supported the finding of fraudulent intent.

In its final ruling, the court sentenced the defendant to six months in prison, ordered him to pay judicial fees and referred the victim’s claim for compensation to the civil court for further proceedings.

 

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