(Credit - WAM)
Fake customs hold notices: what Abu Dhabi Customs warns
Abu Dhabi Customs has warned customers about fraudulent electronic messages that impersonate the authority. The scam messages carry titles such as “Official Customs Hold Notice, Customs Tariff Classification Required (Harmonised System)” and look real, with reference numbers, dates and times. They claim a shipment is on hold until you complete tariff classification and pay fees. The authority says these messages are not issued by it, and that official customs procedures are carried out only through approved systems and official digital platforms.
How to read a suspect message
| What the message does | Why it is a warning sign |
|---|---|
| Uses an official-sounding title and a reference number | Reference numbers, dates and times are easy to copy to look real |
| Says a shipment is on hold | Creates urgency, even if you are not expecting anything |
| Asks you to classify goods or pay fees through a link | The authority says official procedures run only through approved systems |
| Asks for personal, commercial or banking information | This is what the scammers want, along with unauthorised payments |
What the scammers want
- Personal, commercial or banking information.
- Unauthorised payments or transactions.
What to do
- Do not reply to the message.
- Do not click links or open attachments from sources you do not trust.
- Do not share personal, business or banking information.
- Do not pay because of an unexpected request.
- Check the shipment through the courier or Abu Dhabi Customs’ official channels, then report the message through official channels.
Example Scenario: A Notice About a Parcel You Don’t Remember
This recipient is made up. A business owner is expecting a parcel from a known supplier when a message says it is on hold pending tariff classification, with a link and a fee. The courier’s own tracking page shows the parcel moving normally. The mismatch settles it: the message did not come from the authority or the courier, so the owner deletes it and reports it.
Frequently asked questions
Does this only affect Abu Dhabi?
The warning is from Abu Dhabi Customs, but the same trick can be copied under any authority’s name. Treat any unexpected payment demand the same way.
Where to go next
For the general rules on spotting fake officials and where to report in Dubai, see our fake official calls guide. For app-based tricks, see fake apps in the UAE, and for price-based lures, fake insurance and gold deal ads.
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- UAE Data Breach: Does the Company Have to Tell You?
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