Thursday, February 9, 2012

Watch out for phone SCAM




British expat warns others to beware of a hoax where 'winners' are asked to hand over Dhs2,500


An expat has warned of an elaborate scam in which fraudsters tell their victims they’ve won Dhs500,000 in a prize draw.

The Brit was targeted earlier this week and is concerned some people might fall for the complicated con.

She received a call from a man who told her she was the lucky winner in a raffle. But in a bizarre set of instructions she was then told to buy Dhs2,500 of credit for her Etisalat telephone.

He then asked for the long number on the back of her sim card and was told the Dhs2,500 would be deducted from her credit balance but would be refunded when she collected her windfall.

The woman, whose daughter received a similar call the same day, said: “It was all very specific. I was then to go to the bank next to the clock tower in Deira and ask for a Mr Hammad. I was told he would give me my prize plus the Dhs2,500 back in a cheque. He even gave me a mobile number so I could call him back.

“I was immediately suspicious. You never hand over money to get money. But I’m a bit concerned others might fall for it.” The mobile number given to the woman was switched off yesterday.

A spokesperson for Dubai Police said: “Anyone who receives a call telling them that they have won huge sums of money but is given conditions where they have to spend their own money should report the caller’s number to police or Etisalat to help arrest the criminals.”

“This is not a new type of scam. Many people have been targeted before and we have successfully made arrests. Ninety-nine per cent of those involved in such scams are people from Asia.

“We have made several announcements through the media warning the public not to be tempted by such calls.”

Source: 7days

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