Emirates has issued a warning to passengers about fraudsters attempting to exploit uncertainty caused by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. The airline, which has been operating a reduced flight schedule to and from the region, urged customers to be cautious when sharing personal information online.
In a post on social media platform X, the Emirates Support page said: "Do not share booking information, contact details, or any personal data in reply to our posts. Fraudsters may misuse this information. Send us a Direct Message (DM) instead, and we will assist you privately and securely." The warning comes after hundreds of thousands of passengers flooded the airline's social media pages with queries about their planned travel.
Emirates is currently operating a reduced flight schedule, and customers are urged to check their flight status and review the latest operational changes via the airline's website. Passengers booked to travel between February 28 and March 31 can either book an alternate flight for travel on or before April 30, or request a refund. Those who booked with a travel agent should contact them directly.
Dubai Police have also urged people in the city to watch out for scam messages. In a post on X, they stated: "Messages asking for money transfers or personal information through SMS, WhatsApp, or social media are often scams. Stay alert and never share your personal information."
The warnings come amid continued fallout from the US-Israel and Iran war across the Middle East. On Wednesday, two Iranian drones hit near Dubai airport, wounding four people. Overnight, three cargo ships were struck in the Gulf, two off the coast of Iraq and one off the UAE. In the early hours of Thursday, March 12, a drone fell on a residential building near Dubai Creek Harbour, sparking a fire that was brought under control and prompting a precautionary evacuation.
