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30 Arrested for Duping People in 2008

ABU DHABI - More than 30 Africans were arrested across the country last year for allegedly defrauding people to the tune of nearly Dh20 million in more than 10 cases.

The arrests were made by Abu Dhabi Police, with cooperation from the law-enforcement agencies in the other emirates, Colonel Ibrahim Al Hanaei, head of the Anti-organised Crime Sectionin Abu Dhabi Police, told Khaleej Times recently. According to Col. Al Hanaei, the conmen, who were residing in the country illegally, targeted wealthy people and those who worked in financial institutions. As part of the modus operandi, the conmen would convince their ‘targets’ that they possessed some supernatural powers and could multiply money.

In order to gain the confidence, the conmen would ask the ‘targets’ to hand over a small amount – around Dh5,000 – which they wrapped in a piece of paper and with a sleight of hand in the dark, would produce a ‘mystery’ packet. The conmen would then ask the ‘targets’ to take the packet home and open it after two days.

To their amazement, when the ‘targets’ opened the packet after two days, they would find double the amount.

Impressed by the ruse and driven by the greed to double more money, the ‘targets’ would hand over bigger amounts to the conmen, only to find two days later that the ‘mystery’ packets contained nothing but blank pieces of paper of the size of bank notes, Col. Hanaei explained.

“Some of the victims reported the matter to the police, but I am quite sure that the majority of them did not inform the police for fear of ridicule,” he added.

He urged the public to report any person who is suspected of indulging in fraudulent activities.

· adel@khaleejtimes.com