A gang has been arrested for allegedly taking Dh560,000 from Abu Dhabi residents in a real estate scam.
 
The Abu Dhabi Police said on Saturday that they arrested the six Arab men after receiving complaints from several residents in the emirate who had been cheated by the men in the alleged house rent fraud.
 
Police said the Arab brokers had sublet apartment units in villas to the tenants after collecting a year's rent from them, but they disappeared without paying the landlords.

Brigadier Ahmad Al Muhairi, director of the Capital Police Directorate, said the gang of fraudsters had taken cash totalling Dh560,000 from scores of residents. A police team investigated the matter and tracked down the fraudsters.
 
Police investigations showed that the suspects were leasing villas directly from the landlords after giving them post-dated cheques.
 
"The men then sublet the apartments to various tenants at low rents," Al Muhairi said in a statement.
 
"The suspects also made each of the tenants pay them the full rent for the houses. And after receiving the cash, the men vanished without paying the landlords."
 
The victims were able to identify the gang members after police arrested them. The accused have been referred to the public prosecution.
 
Brig Al Muhairi warned people against falling victims to online fraudulent real estate and rental advertisements.

Source: Khaleej Times