Be careful while helping strangers at ATMs, residents warned in UAE

In what may seem like a normal scene at an ATM, a person is asked to help a stranger deposit money on the grounds that his card is not working or that he does not hold an ID.

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While responding to such a request may seem like a humane gesture, the law has a different opinion.

Depositing money into the bank accounts of unknown or unidentified people is regarded in the UAE as a conduct that may expose the depositor to legal accountability, especially if it later becomes clear that the beneficiary account is linked to organised crimes such as money laundering, terrorist financing, or drug trafficking.

Several cases were previously documented where individuals were prevented from making bank transfers due to suspicions about the nature of the beneficiary accounts. Investigations revealed that some individuals had made deposits based on casual requests, unaware of the seriousness of their actions.

Attorney Badr Abdullah Khamis explained that whoever conducts a financial transfer or makes a deposit must verify the source of the funds and if they are legitimate, the entity receiving the funds and the purpose of the transaction.

"Transferring money to unknown people, especially at ATMs, under the pretext that they do not have an ID card, is a risky behaviour, considering that it is the person using his ID to make the deposit who will be held accountable, even if he does not know the beneficiary," he said.

"These funds might be used for drug trafficking, financing terrorist groups, or other crimes," he added.