Questions & Answers
A friend took cash and cheque from me for cryptocurrency he never sent and bounced the cheque
It's a blackmail case.
So a few days ago, I needed to buy cryptocurrency in Dubai, and a friend offered he could help me. But I was a little short of money, I mean I wanted to get 20,000 dirhams worth of crypto but had only 15k.
So my friend told me it was okay, and he would arrange the 5k for me. So I transferred him 15k in his bank account and for the rest 5k, I gave him a cheque. He was supposed to transfer me crypto by that evening.
But 2-3 days passed and he did not send me crypto and he seemed to become very busy, not responding to calls and messages.
After a week, I finally got hold of him and then he backfired saying crypto is illegal in Dubai, he can't help me with this and that, and he started saying I owe him 5k, so I need to clear him for that.
He submitted that cheque to the bank and it bounced. He filed a case in court and today he sent me a message he's publishing news in the newspaper for the court notice and will put a travel ban on me.
Dear Questioner,
Thanks for your inquiry.
First and foremost, it is important to note that cryptocurrency is not illegal in the UAE. However, there are certain regulations and guidelines that must be followed when dealing with cryptocurrency.
In regard to your situation, it appears that your friend is attempting to blackmail you by threatening to publish news in the newspaper and put a travel ban on you. This is a serious offense under UAE law and you should not take it lightly.
You have a few options in this situation:
1. Contact the police: You can report your friend's actions to the police and file a complaint against him for blackmail. This is a criminal offense and the police will take appropriate action.
2. Seek legal advice: It is advisable to seek legal advice from a lawyer who is familiar with UAE laws. They can guide you on the best course of action to take in this situation.
3. Try to negotiate: If you are willing to pay the 5k that your friend is demanding, you can try to negotiate with him and come to a settlement. However, be cautious as this may not be a permanent solution and he may continue to blackmail you in the future.
In any case, it is important to take action and not ignore the situation. Blackmail is a serious offense and should not be tolerated.
Kindly feel free to contact us by phone or email.
Greetings,
