A UAE-based company has reported a severe financial setback after scammers illegally used its logo and product images to deceive customers, leading to financial losses amounting to hundreds of thousands of dirhams. The fraud, which has been operating for months, has caused a 90% drop in sales for the affected business.
Simply The Great Food, a home-grown brand, fell victim to the scam when cybercriminals replicated its branding and images to promote a fraudulent Dh1 offer on various digital platforms. The company’s CEO, Shehroze Ramay, expressed deep concern over the impact, stating,
“Ever since the scams started, we have seen a drastic dip in our sales. In the past few months, our orders have crashed by up to 90%. I am now considering shutting down operations for a few months to contain the losses.”
How the Scam Works: Fake Deals, Surveys, and Payment Fraud
The fraudulent scheme first came to light eight months ago, when sponsored ads featuring Simply The Great Food’s logo and A2 Desi Ghee product images began appearing on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. The scammers ran paid promotions claiming that customers could purchase the product for just Dh1.
Victims were redirected to fake websites designed to mimic the official Simply The Great Food site. Once there, they were asked to complete a survey and enter their payment details. Unbeknownst to them, their credit card information was being compromised.
Victims Lose Thousands, Some Unable to Recover Their Money
The scam has impacted numerous victims, with some losing life savings due to fraudulent transactions.
- Mr. Majid, a Dubai-based taxi driver, lost Dh1,200, money he had saved for his upcoming wedding trip to Pakistan.
- A woman, who had been saving for a deposit on her first home in Dubai, lost Dh100,000. She has since filed a police complaint in hopes of recovering her lost funds.
- Dharmesh Bhardwaj, another Dubai resident, lost Dh18,000 while attempting to purchase ghee through the Dh1 deal.
- Dinesh Kumar, a UAE resident for 16 years, fell victim to the scam and lost Dh5,030.
Dinesh described how he was deceived:
“I saw a sponsored ad on Facebook and clicked the link, which led me to a website that looked legitimate. I was prompted to enter my card details after completing a survey. A transaction error message appeared, so I closed the site.”
A few hours later, he received a bank alert stating that a transaction of Dh14,980 had been declined due to his credit limit. Shortly after, another unauthorized transaction of Dh5,030 was successfully processed—without requiring an OTP confirmation.
"It turns out the scammers had added my card to their Apple Pay account earlier that morning," he explained.
While Dinesh immediately blocked his cards and reported the fraud to his bank, he initially struggled to get a refund. After multiple complaints, the bank offered to return 25% of the lost amount as a gesture of goodwill.
However, other victims, such as Binsy and Nageena, were unable to recover any money.
Cybercriminals Using Advanced AI-Powered Financial Malware
Dubai-based cybersecurity expert Rayad Kamal Ayub, managing director of Rayad Group, warned that scammers are increasingly using artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) to bypass security measures and steal banking credentials.
He highlighted the emergence of PixPirate, a sophisticated financial malware that operates through malicious mobile applications. Once installed, it can:
- Control and manipulate other applications
- Log keystrokes and collect sensitive data
- Install or remove apps without user permission
- Bypass security protections, such as Google Play Protect
- Read, edit, and delete SMS messages
- Steal online banking credentials and bypass two-factor authentication (2FA)
"PixPirate is a serious cybersecurity threat," Ayub explained. "It enables criminals to hijack payment apps like Apple Pay, WhatsApp Pay, and Google Pay, allowing them to drain victims' accounts without detection."
Authorities and Business Owners Fighting Back
CEO Shehroze Ramay stated that UAE authorities have taken action by shutting down several fake websites impersonating his brand. However, fraudsters continue to create new domains each time one is taken down.
“We are actively warning our customers through social media, WhatsApp groups, and community forums to prevent further victims from falling for this scam,” Shehroze said. "Unfortunately, despite our efforts, the damage to our brand and customer trust has been devastating.”
According to UAE authorities, similar scams have previously targeted well-known global brands such as KFC and Al Baik, exploiting customer trust through fake discount offers and promotions.
"We are a small, home-grown business. It took me eight years to build this company, and now, in a matter of months, scammers have destroyed our reputation," Shehroze added.
How Consumers Can Protect Themselves
Cybersecurity experts urge consumers to stay vigilant against online fraud by:
- Verifying the authenticity of websites before making a purchase
- Avoiding deals that seem "too good to be true"
- Not entering card details on suspicious platforms
- Using virtual debit cards for online purchases
- Regularly monitoring bank statements for unauthorized transactions
- Enabling multi-factor authentication (MFA) on banking apps
While authorities continue to crack down on fraudulent operations, businesses and consumers alike must remain cautious as online scams become increasingly sophisticated.
