UAE bids for united effort to beat online scams

DUBAI // Consumer protection authorities want to join forces with their international counterparts to help crack down on foreign-based internet scammers who target UAE shoppers.

With the rapid rise of internet shopping, consumers are at more risk of falling prey to criminals outside the jurisdiction of UAE authorities.

Mohammed Ali Lootah, deputy chief executive of the Commercial Compliance and Consumer Protection Sector of the Department of Economic Development (Ded), said globalisation required a global response to consumer rights.

"The internet knows no borders, and that is the way we need to start thinking about consumer rights," he said. "We are going to look at joining and working more closely with international organisations in this regards."

Speaking on the sidelines of the Dubai World Conference for Consumer Rights at the Dubai International Convention Centre yesterday, he said the Ded would look at joining the International Consumer Protection and Enforcement Network (ICPEN), a global network of consumer protection agencies.

"With ICPEN we can share best practice and if we believe someone in a foreign country is scamming people here, we can inform that country's authorities and they can take action," he said.

Joining ICPEN would require federal government approval.

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Tax authority targets shisha levy evasion

The Federal Tax Authority will track shisha imports with electronic markers to protect customers and ensure levies have been paid.

Khalid Ali Al Bustani, director of the tax authority, on Sunday said the move is to "prevent tax evasion and support the authority’s tax collection efforts".

The scheme’s first phase, which came into effect on 1st January, 2019, covers all types of imported and domestically produced and distributed cigarettes. As of May 1, importing any type of cigarettes without the digital marks will be prohibited.

He said the latest phase will see imported and locally produced shisha tobacco tracked by the final quarter of this year.

"The FTA also maintains ongoing communication with concerned companies, to help them adapt their systems to meet our requirements and coordinate between all parties involved," he said.

As with cigarettes, shisha was hit with a 100 per cent tax in October 2017, though manufacturers and cafes absorbed some of the costs to prevent prices doubling.