As cases of romance scams exploiting the Middle East situation emerge, the foreign ministry urged caution.
According to the Consulate General in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), on the 11th, there have recently been cases of people claiming they were detained over customs or passport issues and asking for money to pay fines or lawyer expense. The consulate general said this is a typical romance scam crime.
A romance scam is a crime in which perpetrators pose as deployed soldiers or professionals on social media or dating apps and then ask for money. In the process, they often use fake photos or documents generated by artificial intelligence (AI) to gain victims' trust.
The Consulate General in Dubai said, "We are working closely with Dubai Airport, the immigration authority, and local police to take immediate action if a real problem occurs," and added, "If an acquaintance you met through SNS or the like pleads hardship for various reasons and asks for money, be sure to ask for verification of the facts."
A notice also warned against taking photos or videos inside Dubai Airport. The UAE strictly regulates personal filming inside government facilities for national security and public order.
On the 5th, a Korean identified as A was also arrested by airport police while filming a commemorative video before leaving Dubai Airport and was released after an hour. (☞[Exclusive] Korean arrested and released after filming video at Dubai Airport)
As the Middle East crisis continues, the regulations are said to have become stricter. Recently, six foreigners, including people from the United Kingdom and India, were arrested for taking photos or videos at Dubai Airport. In particular, there were cases where a fine of 200,000 dirhams (about 80 million won) was imposed, and people could only depart after paying the fine.
The Consulate General in Dubai said, "When our nationals were arrested, we pledged to the Dubai police department to prevent a recurrence, so we cannot guarantee that a warning and release will be possible if our nationals violate the rules again," and added, "Please exercise extra caution and do not take photos or videos at airports or other major facilities."
After the U.S. and Israel's airstrikes on Iran, and Iran's retaliation, more than 6,000 Koreans left the Middle East. However, as of the 9th, 14,700 Koreans still remain in 14 Middle Eastern countries. Among them, about 2,100 are short-term stays, including tourists.