Ajman Police crack down on fake reward messages, bogus job ads

Ajman - Up to Dh1 million fine for sending such messages in UAE.

Did you get a message on WhatsApp saying you have won a fabulous prize? Have you come across an ad on a social networking site that promises to offer you your dream job? Yes. Well, be wary and double check before you take the plunge. These apparently unsuspecting messages and ads could be virtual traps to fleece money from you.   
The Ajman Police have launched an awareness campaign to warn residents against such fraudulent messages and ads, which promise bogus rewards and jobs.
The drive comes after the department was inundated with complaints about such kind of illegal activities, which have grown in the last few months and were going unchecked. 
An official at the CID at Ajman Police said the campaign is part of the strategic plan of the police to ensure safety of residents by urging them to not respond to conmen or meet the demand of the fraudsters through phone calls or social media platforms. 
He explained that in many cases reported to the police, it was found that the scamsters prod and persuade the victims to send them money in order to process the reward or offer them jobs, or visa and many fall prey to such false claims.
"According to complaints received at various police stations, the fraudsters introduce themselves as employees of a company over a call or messages in the WhatsApp and congratulate them for winning a grand prize offered by a communication company or popular hypermarkets." 
There are also scammers whose intention is to carry out Identity thefts by using a questionnaire to get personal information: usernames, passwords and credit card details. The only way to combat such illegal activities and prevent the frauds is to ignore these misleading messages, he said.
The official urged the residents to avoid providing personal information to a stranger that could put them in trouble and immediately report the matter to the police, so the conmen can be tracked and arrested.
The Federal Cyber Crime Law penalises criminals who extract money using a false name through a computer network, electronic information system or information technology device. The penalty is imprisonment between one and three years and a fine ranging from Dh250,000 to Dh1 million.

• Ajman