10 nabbed over mobile phone scam in Sharjah

SHARJAH — The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Sharjah Police on Tuesday arrested a gang of 10 people who allegedly conned residents by sending text messages to their mobile phones that they had won huge cash prizes.

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Amira Agarib

Published: Fri 17 Sep 2010, 12:15 AM

Last updated: Mon 6 Apr 2015, 4:41 PM

A senior police officer said that this type of crime is once again rearing its head, after a drop in the past few months since the Ministry of Interior launched a campaign sending over one million text messages warning people against responding to such fraudsters.

The Sharjah Police learnt about the scam when several residents lodged complaints, saying they had received text messages announcing that they had won a cash prize of Dh500,000. The message said that to claim their prizes, they must transfer either Dh1,000 to Dh10,000 through their banks or as mobile phone credits to the suspects.

Some fell into the trap and sent money or phone credits but when they tried to call the phone numbers from which the messages came, the lines were disconnected. The CID formed a team that tracked down the suspects to an apartment in a building behind Etisalat’s Sharjah headquarters. The officers raided the apartment and arrested 10 people. A large number of mobile phones, SIM cards and a list of mobile phone numbers to which the gang members called were seized.

The suspects have been referred to the Sharjah Public Prosecution.

amira@khaleejtimes.com

Amira Agarib

Published: Fri 17 Sep 2010, 12:15 AM

Last updated: Mon 6 Apr 2015, 4:41 PM

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