Dubai shuts down 202 Instagram accounts for promoting fake goods

Dubai’s authorities have shut 202 Instagram and other social network accounts this year for selling and promoting fake products.

The Dubai Economy Department (DED) said it blocked those accounts after it discovered they were promoting fake products through pictures and other ads, adding that most of their customers are based in the UAE.

DED said such activities are illegal under UAE law and urged social media account holders not to be involved in these practices or they will be prosecuted.

“We have received many complaints and reports about the promotion of counterfeit products through social networks..we have checked those accounts before we decided to shut them.

"We found that such accounts are followed by over two million people,” said Ibrahim Bahzad, head of the intellectual property protection division at DED.

“We have a special unit to monitor such practices.

"It is the first unit of its kind in the UAE. We are working in coordination with other departments to protect consumers,” he told the Dubai-based Arabic language daily 'Emarat Al Youm'.

He urged the public to report such activities by calling DED on 600545555 or contact it on its Twitter page @dubai_consumers.

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