New Begging Scams Using AI During Ramadan—Don't Be Deceived!

Jakarta—Many people compete to give alms and charitable donations during Ramadan, a period when charitable rewards are multiplied. Unfortunately, this momentum is also being exploited by numerous begging syndicates to earn more income.

Begging activities have even expanded into the virtual world. According to a Gulf News report, fraudsters in the United Arab Emirates are now exploiting artificial intelligence to create fake sympathetic content.

Their methods include fabricating hospital scenes, forging medical reports, and manipulating images of sick children. There are even AI-generated voice messages sent via WhatsApp and Instagram designed to solicit empathy.

The UAE’s cybercrime unit is now using digital forensic tools to track AI-based content and dismantle these networks. Authorities in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah have warned residents against giving cash directly to individuals on the street.

According to them, direct donations risk funding organised crime, encouraging child exploitation, and obscuring assistance for genuinely needy cases. The UAE government has emphasised that donations should be channelled through official licensed charitable organisations to ensure they reach the intended recipients and are properly verified.

Wealthy Begging Syndicates

In several recent arrests, police uncovered shocking facts. A man arrested for begging was found to own three luxury vehicles.

Another case revealed a beggar concealing 25,000 dirhams (approximately 90 million rupiah). There was also a beggar who used a two-year-old child to collect 20,000 dirhams in various currencies in just a matter of days.

Police also dismantled a family-based syndicate that forced children, some as young as seven years old, onto the streets to beg instead of attending school.