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Dubai woman defrauded of Dh200,000 by 'soldier' online

Dubai - He told the victim the funds were at the customs

Three men defrauded a woman of Dh 200,000 after one of them introduced himself as a US soldier on Linkedin and pretended he was planning to launch an investment project worth $ 4.2 m in the UAE.
He told the victim the funds were at the customs and Dh 200,000 was needed to be paid in fees for clearance and pick-up.
According to Bur Dubai prosecutor Mitra Ibrahim Madani, the case was cracked in coordination with the Criminal Investigation Department.
The complainant said she was victim of fraud after a man introduced himself to her as a US soldier in Iraq who was to retire soon. He claimed he was interested in doing investments in the UAE and he would send her documents and funds in bags. He e-mailed the complainant his passport copy.
His accomplice contacted her saying he was at the customs and needed Dh 21,000 in cash for clearance fees. She wired him the money and other amounts on several occasions. After what she transferred totaled Dh 200,000 and the men kept stalling in handing her the shipment (of $ 4.2 m) she realized she was dealing with fraudsters. She complained to the police.
Investigation revealed the victim used to spend long hours in international calls with the suspect who impersonated a US soldier in Iraq. He would tell her details of his daily life there while she would share with him her real struggle as a divorced mother with kids.  
The CID officers managed to arrest one of the accused after tracking the man who collected the money wired by the victim. He was an African using an Asian man's ID.
Prosecutor Madani urged the public to be very careful when using social media for some gangsters would prey on easy targets and con them of their money. Madani also advised against sharing personal information with strangers.
mary@khaleejtimes.com