Dh25 Million Scam: Dubai Suppliers Duped by Fake Shipping Firm
In a major scam rocking Dubai’s business community, a company posing as a legitimate ship chandler has vanished with goods and services worth over Dh25 million, leaving nearly 100 suppliers across the UAE in financial distress.
The Fraud Operation
Operating under the name Rak Marine Services, the company rented offices in Al Reem Tower, Deira, and presented itself as a reputable marine and manpower service provider. It had a convincing website, documentation, and even warehouse space to build trust. But behind the professional setup was a fraudulent scheme involving bulk orders and bogus post-dated cheques.
By July 10, just before many cheques were due to clear, Rak Marine Services abruptly shut down operations. Phones were disconnected, warehouses emptied, and affiliated firms—Rak Impex Goods Wholesalers and Rak Facility—also disappeared without a trace.
What Was Stolen
The stolen items ranged widely: 2,000kg of prawns, laptops, steel coils, furniture, energy drinks, mobile phones, water heaters, and over 850 international flight tickets. A shared Google Drive folder revealed unpaid dues from 95 companies, though the actual number may be higher.
How It Worked
The scam followed a familiar pattern. Small initial orders were paid promptly to build trust, followed by large bulk orders on credit. Once deliveries were made, cheques began to bounce and the company vanished.
Travel agencies were among the hardest hit. One firm reported issuing 707 tickets worth Dh670,000, only to learn the tickets were resold. Food suppliers, electronics dealers, and steel vendors also suffered massive losses.
Delayed Justice
Many victims have approached the police, but were told to treat it as a civil matter—especially if the cheques haven’t bounced yet. Legal delays have frustrated victims, who argue the scheme was a calculated fraud, not a simple payment issue.
Larger Pattern of Scams
An investigation by Khaleej Times revealed that the audit firm linked to Rak Marine also prepared financials for other firms that pulled off similar scams before disappearing. These included Dynamic Alliance, Royal Luck Foodstuff, and Harbine Marine Services.
Ongoing Fallout
A 4,000-square-foot warehouse in Sharjah remains locked, with unpaid rent and abandoned goods. The landlord expressed concern over possible health and safety hazards from decaying food and chemicals stored inside.
Affected suppliers have formed a WhatsApp group with over 220 members to share updates and explore legal options, though many fear reputational damage and tightened credit terms from their own vendors.
This case adds to a growing list of elaborate frauds in Dubai, raising concerns about regulatory loopholes and the misuse of post-dated cheques in high-value business deals.
