News

UAE To Punish Crypto Scammers With Fines & Jail Time

The penalties reflect Article 48 of the Federal Decree-Law No. 34 of 2021 on Combatting Rumors and Cybercrimes.

Published

2 years ago

June 15, 2022

uae to punish crypto scammers with fines and jail time

Cryptocurrency scams (and crypto scammers) are a global problem, and the cost of this problem reached a staggering $14 billion in 2021 alone.

To discourage crypto scammers from targeting unsuspecting investors, the UAE Public Prosecution has recently announced its decision to punish them with fines of up to $136,124 USD (AED 500,000) and jail terms for the following offenses:

Promoting goods or services through misleading advertisement or using false data.
Advertising, promoting, brokering, or dealing in any form, or encouraging the dealing in a virtual or digital currency, a stored value unit, or any unit of payment that is not officially recognized in the UAE or without obtaining a license from the competent authority.

The penalties reflect Article 48 of the Federal Decree-Law No. 34 of 2021 on Combatting Rumors and Cybercrimes, and they’re explained in a video the UAE Public Prosecution shared on social media.

The UAE Public Prosecution is on a mission to increase awareness about the latest laws in the country, and it has issued several similar warnings in the past.

Also Read: 3 Best Cold Storage Wallets For Crypto In 2023

In 2020, for example, the UAE Public Prosecution warned that the use of the Internet Protocol for committing a crime or evading its discovery was a punishable offense in accordance with Article 9 of the Federal Law No. 5 for 2012 on combating cybercrimes and its amendments.

The UAE aspires to become a global crypto hub, and it needs a strong legislature to attract innovators and investors alike.

In February 2022, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum approved the so-called Virtual Asset Law, establishing the Dubai Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA), whose purpose is to oversee the regulation and authorization of virtual asset activities in Dubai.

It will be interesting to see how much these new punishments will drop the amount of scams we see on a daily basis.

Related Topics:Cryptocurrency United Arab Emirates

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Mamo Completes $3.4M Funding Round To Enhance Fintech Services

The startup will use the influx of cash to expand into Saudi Arabia and across the wider GCC while improving its product offering.

Published

1 day ago

July 25, 2024

Nour Nasir

Mamo

UAE-based fintech Mamo has announced the completion of a $3.4 million funding round that will help the startup extend its market presence and improve its product offering. Investors included 4DX Ventures, the Dubai Future District Fund and Cyfr Capital.

Mamo’s platform offers “payment collection, corporate cards and expense management” to help small and medium-sized businesses consolidate and streamline their operations. With the latest influx of capital, Mamo will further develop its comprehensive suite of services and begin testing its product lines in Saudi Arabia, further extending its footprint across the GCC.

Imad Gharazeddine, co-founder and CEO of Mamo, stated: “We’ve been in the market for a while now and are incredibly proud of what our team has achieved. The holistic and expansive nature of our product offering has helped us continue to grow sustainably. This additional funding will allow us to reach our medium-term goals even faster. The support from new and existing investors is a testament to our strong expertise and the ability to deliver on our customer promise”.

Daniel Marlo, General Partner of lead investor 4DX Ventures, added: “We have immense trust in Imad’s vision, leadership and Mamo’s innovative approach to provide a user-friendly and comprehensive financial solution for SMEs that makes financial management more accessible and efficient. We are proud to partner with them and support their mission”.

Also Read: A Guide To Digital Payment Methods In The Middle East

Amer Fatayer, Managing Director of Dubai Future District Fund’s investment team, also commented: “Mamo’s localized product lines serve as an infrastructure for SME payments and spend management in UAE, a segment that is underserved by the country’s current banking infrastructure. The team has taken a product-first approach to consolidating SMEs’ financial journeys and building a fintech solution deeply embedded in a business’s core operations”.

To date, Mamo has raised around $13 million in investment funding and now boasts a team of 30 people. The company’s intuitive financial services platform has allowed over 1,000 businesses to consolidate their financial operations and significantly reduce payment fees.