As part of the ‘Be Aware’ campaign, Abu Dhabi Police has warned about the growing dangers of downloading remote control applications on smart devices, whether mobile phones or computers, emphasizing that they have increasingly become tools exploited by fraudsters to carry out criminal activities aimed at stealing money and sensitive personal information.
Abu Dhabi Police explained that these remote control applications are originally intended for legitimate and useful purposes such as technical support, remote work, or screen sharing. However, some scammers deliberately misuse these tools by deceiving victims into downloading them under the pretext of providing assistance or resolving technical issues, ultimately enabling them to gain full control of the device and access sensitive data without the user’s knowledge.
The police urged the public not to respond to suspicious or unknown phone calls requesting the installation of programs or the sharing of confidential information, stressing that bank employees and official authorities never ask for bank account details, credit card numbers, passwords, PINs, or one-time passwords (OTP) under any circumstances.
They also called for increased vigilance and caution among community members, advising against sharing any sensitive or personal information to avoid falling victim to fraud. Authorities stressed the importance of downloading remote control applications only from official and trusted sources, as well as reviewing app permissions carefully before installation.
The public was urged, in case of any fraud attempt or suspicious activity through remote control apps, to report it immediately by contacting ‘Aman’ on 8002626, sending a text message to 2828, or visiting the nearest police station.
The warning against remote control apps come as part of ongoing efforts to combat cybercrime, enhance public awareness, and protect society from its growing risks. They also emphasized the importance of using reliable security software, enabling device protections, and keeping systems regularly updated to prevent potential cyber threats.
