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

Phoney business: Is there no end to recharge scams?

Another day, another victim in the unending saga of phone recharge scams

Dubai: As a victim of a phone recharge scam, Filipina secretary Sarah L, 28, should be upset. Instead she's happy. The reason: She had nearly maxed her credit card. This meant the scammers couldn't take more than Dh300 from her account to top up an unknown du number.

"I was lucky the maximum credit limit was already reached… it's possible the hackers could have taken more money from me, if that were not the case," said the Dubai resident, the latest victim in a long list of phone recharge scams in the UAE. "I'm really shocked that this kind of thing is still happening, having read about similar incidents in the past from the papers. It's scary and I never thought it would happen to me," said Sarah, who reported the spooky transaction to the bank on August 16, the day after she discovered it. Sarah has been issued a new card by her bank. She said the bank has told her they will decide whether to refund the Dh300 or not, based on the outcome of their investigation.

Cyber crime surge

Of late, there has been a surge in cyber crimes. This year a staggering 271 such crimes were reported in Dubai in the first six months alone. Though a number of banks have limited the amount on online phone recharge transactions and other measures following a raft of complaints from victims conned in scams, authorities said cyber-hackers are still able to launch attacks.

 

Officials said hackers today use varying approaches to pull off their caper, and are usually motivated by money. Reports said Asian street hawkers in different emirates allegedly buy credits at over 50 per cent discount siphoned off from victims by hackers - and retail the credit at full price to people.

On August 18, at a seminar on cyber threats to financial institutions, Mohammad Nasser Al Ghanim, TRA director-general, said: "Threats have evolved to bypass classical protections adopted by many of these organisations. The landscape of the attacks has shifted from phishing, into malaware that mimics users' behaviour to trick the institutions."

According to him, there is no single solution to mitigate the threats. "However, it takes collaboration, knowledge sharing, and joint efforts to eradicate these issues," he said.

• 271: The number of cyber crimes cases reported in the first six months

 Source: Gulf News

Ramadan alert: Top 5 scams to watch out for

If you haven't been a victim of a parking lot scam yet - count yourself lucky. Parking lots have become the favourite haunt of scamsters looking to con the gullible. XPRESS picks out the top five rip-offs you may come across during Ramadan and provides tips on how to spot and avoid them

1) CUT ABOVE THE REST

As you turn on the ignition, a bedraggled looking man taps on your car window. As you roll down, he thrusts his arm in your face, showing an infected open wound. The man tells you he got injured at his work place and asks for help. To make his story even more believable he pulls out a doctor's prescription. But you don't want to see it. You're already cringing in horror and want to throw up. You want him to go away so you quickly dig into your pocket and hand him some money.

GOING ON SINCE:

Around four-five years with some variations. Instead of the burnt/ bandaged arm ruse, some con artists cash in on your emotions by pulling open their shirt to reveal an IV bag taped to their abdomen with needles et al.

AREA OF OPERATION:

Sandy parking lots in Dubai and Sharjah. Cases have been reported from Ajman and Abu Dhabi too.

TOP TIP:

Unless you don't care where your money is going, don't hand it over. Offer to take the man to a doctor or hospital for treatment or pretend to call the police and see how fast your 'sick' patient takes to his heels.

2) SUIT YOURSELF, SIR

A well-dressed European asks you for directions. He claims he's an Italian designer who's in town for a garment exhibition and has some Armani or Gucci designer suits left over. They cost a fortune, but he offers to sell them at Dh200 apiece, sometimes even less as he's in a hurry to fly back. He'll even show you a passport, plane ticket (probably fakes) to prove his identity. The suits are cheap counterfeits, of course. But then, if you're buying out of a trunk of a car you can't expect anything better, can you?

GOING ON SINCE:

For at least six years with some variations.

AREA OF OPERATION:

Mostly around Bur Dubai and Deira.

TOP TIP:

Trust your instincts. If the price is too good to be true, it probably isn't.

3) THE LONGRIDERS

A car with an Oman registration flags you down. Before you can say 'MUSCAT', the driver points at his co-passengers – invariably a woman and a child – and tells you his sob story. It goes like this: His car has broken down and he has spent whatever money he had to get it fixed. Now he's left with no money for petrol and, in some cases, baby formula food. So, could you lend him Dh50? A stranded family in distress. You'd have to have a heart of stone to refuse to help. Your overwhelming urge to do a good deed in Ramadan gets the better of you and you fork out the money, not realising that you've been duped. On a good day, the 'stranded' couple make a cool Dh500.

GOING ON SINCE:

For as long as one can remember.

AREA OF OPERATION:

All over the UAE .

TOP TIP:

Beware the pull on your heart strings. It's your purse-strings that are being reached for.

4) THE VOLUNTARY CAR MECHANICS

Your car is not starting or you have a flat tyre. As you struggle with the ignition/jack, a man appears out of the blue. He says he's a mechanic and offers to fix the car – of course for a certain fee. For all you know, it may be he who tampered with your car in the first place so he could offer to fix it and charge you later.

GOING ON SINCE:

Two-three years

AREA OF OPERATION:

Parking lots near commercial establishments

TOP TIP:

It's too much of a coincidence that a 'mechanic' happens to be around when your car breaks down. Contact a mechanic or seek the help of someone you can trust.

5) ON A WING AND A PRAYER

You're about to step into your car when a man approaches you and offers his greetings. As you jog your memory trying to remember if you've met the smiling stranger before, he engages you in conversation by telling you 'astoundingly accurate' things about your past life. It's things you want to hear: "You're self-made" and how "you defied odds to be what you are."

Sprinkled in the conversation will be generic information and references to common things like "your recurring headaches/stomach cramps" or the "scheming colleague at work." Towards the end of the reading, the man will tell you he's a psychic fakir who has noticed a dark energy around you. He can rid you of it if you cough up some money to feed the pigeons at the pilgrimage centre where he's going later this year.

GOING ON SINCE:

Early 2010 with some variations.

AREA OF OPERATION:

Rolla, Al Yarmouk in Sharjah

TOP TIP:

Since the con artist doesn't ask for money up front, you don't mind entertaining him. That's your first step to being duped. It's hard to refuse them money when you are with your wife who is concerned for you having heard the man's prophecy. The best way out is not to entertain him at all.

Source: Gulfnews Xpress