Can we file a criminal case and civil case if our customer paid in cheques and cheated us?

Hi,

Under the current UAE law, a bounced cheque due to insufficient funds is now treated mainly as a civil matter, not a criminal one.

You can file a civil case to recover your money. However, a criminal case can still be filed if there is evidence of fraud or deliberate wrongdoing, such as:

- The drawer intentionally closed the account before the cheque was cashed.

- The drawer instructed the bank not to honor the cheque.

- The cheque was deliberately signed incorrectly or altered to prevent payment.

If your customer’s actions fall under these fraudulent scenarios, you may have grounds for a criminal complaint in addition to your civil case.

Otherwise, you should proceed with a civil case for debt recovery.

It’s best to consult with us, we are experts in bounced cheque and debt collection cases for tailored advice and to assess if criminal action is possible in your situation.

Hello,

Thank you for reaching out regarding the issue with your customer. Under UAE law, a bounced cheque due to insufficient funds is generally treated as a civil matter; however, if there is evidence of bad faith or fraudulent intent—such as deliberately emptying the account, stopping the cheque, or falsifying details—a criminal case may also be pursued.

You are entitled to initiate a civil execution case using the bounced cheque as an execution instrument, which allows for enforcement actions such as asset seizure or travel bans.

If you believe fraudulent conduct is involved, you may proceed with both civil and criminal legal actions.

We recommend a full review of your documentation to determine the appropriate legal strategy. Please let us know if you'd like to schedule a consultation to proceed further.

Best regards,

Dear Questioner,

Thank you for reaching out regarding your situation.

If a customer has issued cheques that were later dishonored, and there is evidence of deception or fraudulent intent, it may be possible to pursue both civil and criminal action under UAE law:

Civil case: You can file a claim to recover the outstanding amount through the court or relevant debt recovery channels.

Criminal case: If the cheque was dishonored due to insufficient funds, a criminal complaint can generally be filed under the UAE Penal Code, depending on the circumstances and emirate.

If there is clear evidence of fraud or intentional deceit, this strengthens the criminal aspect of the case.

We would be pleased to review the documents and provide detailed advice on the best course of action.

Please feel free to contact our office to arrange a consultation or share the relevant cheque copies and communication records for initial assessment.

Best regards,

Mohammed Salah

Legal Consultant

Dear Inquirer,

Thank you for reaching out.

Yes, in the UAE, if a customer has issued cheques that were dishonored or used deceitfully, it is possible to file a criminal case in addition to a civil claim for debt recovery, depending on the circumstances.

To evaluate your case and take appropriate legal action, we recommend booking a consultation or authorizing our firm to act on your behalf.

You may book your consultation through our website

Best regards,

Thank you for contacting us via Legal Advice Middle East.

Yes, under UAE law, if your customer has issued bounced cheques or dishonored payments with the intent to mislead or avoid payment, you may be entitled to pursue both civil and criminal actions.

We have handled a nearly identical case for a client who was issued cheques for commercial services, and the customer refused to pay after the cheques bounced.

Our legal team succeeded in freezing assets through the civil court and simultaneously initiated a criminal complaint for cheque fraud.

You have two options moving forward:

First, you can file a criminal case under the applicable penal provisions if the cheque was returned due to insufficient funds, account closure, or a clear intention to defraud. This could result in travel bans or fines imposed on the debtor.

Second, you may initiate a civil case for recovery of the amount, claiming compensation, interest, and legal costs.

A final judgment from the civil court enables you to proceed with enforcement measures like account seizure or property attachment.

Combining both tracks gives you strategic leverage—civil to recover the amount, and criminal to apply legal pressure.

We can support you with legal notices, complaint filing, case management in court, and debt recovery enforcement.

Our multilingual legal team speaks Arabic, English, Hindi, Russian, and Chinese and is fully equipped to handle your case discreetly and efficiently.

This response is provided by Rashid Al Kaitoob Advocates & Legal Consultants based solely on the information you’ve provided and does not constitute a final legal opinion. A binding legal assessment can only be given after reviewing the full documents of the case.

Yes, under UAE law, if a customer has issued you cheques that were dishonoured, you may pursue both civil and criminal action, depending on the circumstances.

A criminal complaint can be filed for issuing a cheque in bad faith (e.g., with insufficient funds, closed account, or with intent to defraud).

A civil claim may also be filed to recover the outstanding debt based on the underlying commercial transaction.

We recommend reviewing the cheque copies, any bounced cheque memos from the bank, and your commercial agreement or invoice to assess the strength of the case.

Please feel free to share the documents so we can advise you on the appropriate legal steps.

Kindly share your WhatsApp number if you wish to proceed or discuss this further.

Best regards,

According to the new UAE law on cheques (Federal Decree-Law No. 50 of 2022, effective from January 2, 2022), cheque bounce due to insufficient funds is no longer a criminal offense in most cases unless there is evidence of fraud or bad intent.

Key Legal Updates:

Direct enforcement procedures: A bounced cheque is now an executive document, allowing direct enforcement without needing a civil lawsuit.

Partial payment: Banks must pay any available partial amount to the beneficiary.

Criminal liability in specific cases: Such as issuing a cheque from a closed account or with fraudulent intent, punishable by fines and imprisonment.

Faster enforcement: Measures include asset freezing, account seizure, and travel bans.

Thank you for reaching out.

I'm sorry to hear that your customer has taken advantage of your trust and failed to honour the cheques. In situations like this, the law in the UAE provides strong remedies.

If the cheques were returned unpaid due to insufficient funds or other dishonest reasons, a criminal complaint can indeed be filed, and at the same time, a civil case can be initiated to recover the amount due.

Both actions can proceed in parallel, and depending on the circumstances, precautionary measures such as a travel ban or asset attachment may also be possible.

To guide you properly and act on your behalf, I would need to review the bounced cheques and any communication or agreements you had with the customer.

Please feel free to reach out to me directly on WhatsApp or phone so we can discuss the details and proceed with the most effective legal strategy.