Dubai Police warn of rising use of AI in document forgery

Dubai Police have sounded the alarm over a growing trend of artificial intelligence being used to forge documents, warning that the technology is increasingly being exploited for financial fraud and other criminal activity, WAM reported.

Despite their polished appearance, forged documents often contain subtle red flags, including inconsistent details, wording that does not match official templates, and fabricated signatures or stamps, the Anti-Fraud Centre said.

Police advised against relying solely on how a document looks. Instead, recipients should verify the sender, check digital metadata such as file creation and modification dates, and confirm official reference numbers through authorized channels.

The Anti-Fraud Centre emphasized that using AI or other tools to forge documents is a criminal offence under UAE law, adding that public awareness remains the strongest defense against fraud.

Dubai Police urged anyone who suspects a scam or forgery attempt to report it immediately via the Dubai Police smart app, by calling 901, or through the eCrime platform.

Under UAE law, document forgery carries severe penalties. Forging an official document is punishable by up to 10 years in prison, while forging an unofficial document can also result in imprisonment. Using or knowingly possessing forged documents is subject to additional penalties.

Stricter punishments apply to electronic forgery. Those convicted of forging digital documents belonging to government or public institutions face temporary imprisonment and fines ranging from AED150,000 to AED750,000, while forgery involving private electronic documents carries fines of up to AED300,000, imprisonment, or both.

Dubai Police reiterated that vigilance, verification and prompt reporting are essential as criminals continue to exploit emerging technologies.