Abu Dhabi Police warn against online begging during Ramadan

The force said using internet platforms can be hugely lucrative and is the most dangerous form of all

A cannon is fired to signal the end of the fast on the first day of Ramadan at Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi, UAE. Victor Besa / The National

A boy looks through a window near decorations for the Muslim holy month of Ramadan in Sidon, Lebanon. Reuters

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A Muslim man reads the Quran inside a mosque in Mamuju, West Sulawesi province, Indonesia. Reuters

A Muslim prays on a roof inside Jerusalem's Old City. Reuters

People eat their Iftar meals at Jama Masjid in the old quarters of Delhi, India. Reuters

Migrant workers pray in their dormitory in Singapore. Reuters

Muslims attend a Friday prayer at Mahabat Khan mosque in Peshawar, Pakistan. Reuters

A small group of worshippers pray at Kaaba in the Grand Mosque in the holy city of Makkah, Saudi Arabia. Reuters

People buy traditional bread at a bakery before the time for iftar in the rebel-held Idlib city, Syria. Reuters

Sheikh Junayd Ahmad leads livestreamed Taraweeh evening prayers at the Muslim Association of Puget Sound in Redmond, Washington, USA. Reuters

A Muslim family breaks their fast with the Iftar meal in the historic Bo-Kaap district in Cape Town, South Africa. Reuters

A muezzin of the shrine of Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jeelani prays in Baghdad, Iraq. Reuters

A man prays insider the Great Mosque of Brussels in Belgium. Reuters

Muslims pray before breaking their fast at Independence Square, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Reuters

A boy looks up while waiting to break his fast in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Reuters

A man reads the Quran by the window of his house in Ahmedabad, India. Reuters

A girl lies down as women pray at a mosque in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. Reuters

Imam Ahmad Al-Harasis reads the Quran at Abdullah Ben Sallam mosque in Amman, Jordan. reuters

Nepalese Muslim men are seen reflected in a mirror as they pray next to sacks of food to distribute to needy families in Kathmandu, Nepal. Reuters

Read More: How to donate legally in the UAE during Ramadan

Abu Dhabi Police warned the public not to be deceived by beggars using unlicensed online platforms, social media and text messaging during Ramadan.

The emirate's police said the beggars, who could be anywhere in the world, will use heartfelt messages and images seeking financial support to help orphans, pay for medical treatments or to build mosques and schools in poor countries as a ruse to scam people during the holy month.

The force said online begging could be lucrative and was the most dangerous form of all because the money would go to an anonymous person or group to be used for an unknown reason.

The penalties for begging is a jail term of up to three months and a fine of at least Dh5,000.

The penalty will be stiffened against beggars who are found to be in good health condition and have a source of income or those who claim to be a service provider using means of deception.

Anyone organising begging will receive a jail term of no less than six months a minimum fine of Dh100,000.

Each year, authorities urge the public to use only official channels for charity donations.

Although donations are encouraged, there are strict laws in the UAE that people are required to follow.

It is illegal to hand out money to strangers or run fundraising campaigns without a licence. Residents cannot share or forward links to unlicensed charities on social media or messaging apps.

In January, existing laws on how money is donated were broadened to include food, supplies and medicine.