Urgent warning over Dubai chocolate SCAMS: Greedy fraudsters are setting up fake websites to cash in on the viral craze - here's how to spot them

Urgent warning over Dubai chocolate SCAMS: Greedy fraudsters are setting up fake websites to cash in on the viral craze - here's how to spot them READ MORE: Cheap Dubai choc knock-offs contain palm oil and carcinogens By JONATHAN CHADWICK FOR MAILONLINE Published: 12:59 BST, 19 April 2025 | Updated: 12:59 BST, 19 April 2025 e-mail View comments If you're desperate for a taste of the Dubai chocolate bar, experts warn to be on the lookout for scams cashing in on the craze. Also known as Can't Get Knafeh of It, the Dubai chocolate bar contains a mix of pistachio and crispy kataifi pastry known as 'angel hair'. Like Willy Wonka's golden ticket, chocolate fans around the world are clamouring to get their hands on the confection, which is made in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Unfortunately, greedy fraudsters are setting up fake websites which claim to sell the delectable creation. The websites are impersonating FIX Dessert Chocolatier, the makers of the Dubai chocolate bar, and Deliveroo, which sells it in the UAE. 'Scammers are often quick to capitalize on trends, and the Dubai chocolate craze is a prime example of this,' said Olga Svistunova, expert at security firm Kaspersky.



'Using tactics that prey on consumer enthusiasm and trust in established brands is an effective way for cybercriminals to succeed.' Here's how to spot the numerous dodgy sites – which are reportedly taking money without fulfilling orders. The original Dubai chocolate bar, also known as Can't Get Knafeh of It, is made by FIX Dessert Chocolatier and is only available through Deliveroo in Dubai and Abu Dhabi 'Can't Get Knafeh Of It' (the original Dubai chocolate bar, pictured) is only available through Deliveroo in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

This is why manufacturers like Lindt have been making their own versions to cash in on the craze The Dubai chocolate bar – which shot to fame on social media last year' – was created by Sarah Hamouda, a British-Egyptian Dubai-based chocolatier. Her company, FIX Dessert Chocolatier, sell the sought-after treat for £14 – but only through Deliveroo for customers in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, UAE. 'We don’t currently offer international shipping or retail outside the region,' a FIX Dessert Chocolatier spokesperson told MailOnline.

As the company points out on its Facebook page , it does not have any authorised resellers, a physical store, or even a website. So it is something of a concern that when you search 'Fix Dessert Chocolatier' on Google multiple websites appear at the top of the results. The very top one – fixdessertchocolate.

com – purports to sell the Dubai chocolate bar for $18 (£13.50), plus $15 (£11) for postage to the UK. However, when customers go to check out on the site, they're told they 'must have an order with a minimum of $150' (£113) to place the order.

Suspiciously, customers are also told: 'Order with crypto and get an extra chocolate bar!' It may have a convincing-sounding URL, but fixdessertchocolate.com (pictured) makes visitors pay £113 for a batch of chocolate bars that don't arrive Another scam site - fixdessertshop.com - claims to sell Dubai chocolate bars in UAE currency Tips to avoid Dubai chocolate scams Verify website authenticity : Check URLs, domain names, and customer reviews before making purchases online.

In this case, it advised to only purchase Fix Dessert Chocolatier from the official Deliveroo website. Be wary of unsolicited offers : Scammers often use pop-ups, ads, or phishing emails to direct users to fraudulent sites. Avoid sharing personal information : Only provide sensitive details on secure, verified platforms.

Source: Kaspersky Advertisement Unfortunately, the website is a 'well-known scam site' that has been reported for taking orders and not fulfilling them, the real FIX Dessert Chocolatier told MailOnline. 'They have no affiliation with us whatsoever, and we strongly advise against placing any orders through that platform,' a spokesperson said. Another site – fixdessertshop.

com – claims to sell the bars in UAE currency for the equivalent of £14 plus £23 in postage to the UK. But similarly, when victims get to the checkout page, they're told they need to spend at least £81 to place their order. One victim on Reddit said they'd paid via Apple Pay on fixdessertshop.

com for Dubai chocolate – but said they'd had 'no response', calling it a 'scam'. Yet another, orderfixchocolatier.shop, tells customers they need to order at least six bars – but even if people pay the extortionate amount there's no indication they'll receive anything in the mail.

Of course, some websites of authentic chocolatiers, such as Lindt, are selling their own version of the bar online. But because of the craze surrounding the confection at the moment, it's safer not to take the risk with any website that you don't recognise. According to Kaspersky, some fake e-commerce platforms are impersonating Deliveroo and other independent vendors from around the world.

It said: 'These fraudulent websites promise Dubai’s chocolate but vanish once payments are collected, leaving consumers empty-handed.' Sarah Hamouda, founder of FIX Dessert Chocolatier, stresses that her original creation doesn't have any authorised resellers. Also, FIX Dessert Chocolatier doesn't have a website.

Experts at Kaspersky have identified a fraudulent campaign targeting consumers in the UAE - where cybercriminals created fake websites impersonating FIX Dessert Chocolatier, the makers of the Dubai chocolate bar, and Deliveroo, which sells it there. Pictured, an example of a scam chocolate store posing as Deliveroo This site, orderfixchocolatier.shop, tells customers they need to order at least six bars but even if people pay the extortionate amount there's no indication they'll receive anything in the mail 'We frequently alert our customers about scammers through our social channels and urge them to report any unauthorized resellers or accounts,' she said.

'We hope they remain vigilant against scammers who might overcharge, offer different products, or improperly store FIX resulting in an unpleasant experience to our customers.' If you're not in the UK and want the original Dubai chocolate bar, you may have to rely on a friend or family member there to bring one back for you in their luggage. Alternatively, there are several imitation bars being sold in UK high street shops, including Lindt's £10 version sold in Waitrose and Sainsbury's .

Read More Could Dubai chocolate give you CANCER? Cheap versions of viral treat contain carcinogenic chemicals There's also a £4.99 version branded 'J.D.

Gross' sold in Lidl – although demand has been so intense that you'll be lucky to find one on the shelves. MailOnline managed to get hold of one imitation bar sold in Istanbul, Turkey which cost a hefty 12.90 euros – just over £11.

The tiny bar – weighing just 70g but packaged to make it look much bigger – had a good crunch but lacked any substantial pistachio flavour. It follows an investigation in Germany finding that some imitation Dubai chocolate bars contain dodgy additives and contaminants. Among these are palm oil, green food dyes, toxins produced by moulds and even chemical compounds thought to be carcinogenic.

The Dubai chocolate bar: A brief history The Dubai chocolate bar, also known as 'Can't Get Knafeh Of It', was created by Sarah Hamouda, a British-Egyptian Dubai-based chocolatier. Hamouda, who established FIX Dessert Chocolatier in 2021, had been inventing new fillings to satisfy her pregnancy cravings before settling on a blend of pistachio, knafeh, and tahini (sesame paste). In December 2023 TikTok food influencer Maria Vehera posted a clip of her eating the treat - and word quickly spread.

Because Can't Get Knafeh Of It is only available through Deliveroo in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, manufacturers have been making their own versions to cash in on the craze. Many small pastry shops and confectioners also offer their own Dubai chocolate. Unfortunately, scam sites are also popping up online purporting to sell the original.

FIX Dessert Chocolatier, which only sells the original Dubai chocolate bar through Deliveroo, has warned that it doesn't have a website or a physical store. On Facebook, FIX Dessert Chocolatier told followers to 'beware of scammers' as people are losing money online to fake sales. It said: 'Many are buying counterfeit bars in stores, with packaging that looks identical to ours, but the product inside is fake.

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