10-men gang arrested in UAE for mobile phone scams

The Abu Dhabi Police have arrested 10 Asian men who defrauded people by promising them bogus cash prizes after claiming to be working for UAE telecommunication companies.
Police said the suspects used to make phone calls or sometimes send text messages to people claiming they have won big cash prizes through their service providers.
Brigadier Rashid Mubarak Al Musamari, director of the criminal police department for the outer regions, said the scammer would then tell the mobile phone users to send money through money exchange offices or send them telephone recharge cards as charges for processing the cash prizes they have won.
Police said once the victim sends money, the criminal switches off the mobile phone and disappears.
Al Musamari added that the Rahba police station recently received complaints from various people, who were victims of mobile phone fraud and had been cheated by these bogus telecommunication employees.
Police initiated investigations into the matter and tracked down the scammers who operated like 'spider threads' and had them arrested.
"We arrested 10 people after investigations confirmed that they were involved in the mobile phone scams," said Al Musamari.
He added that the force also seized from the men forged documents, gadgets, mobile phones and telephone recharge cards that were being used in the fraud.
Police have warned people to ignore phone calls and messages that tell them they have won huge cash prizes and asking them to pay some fee by wiring money or by transferring phone credit.
People have been told that when they receive such messages, they should immediately report to police.
Mobile phone customers have also been warned to be careful as such scams can encourage people to make transactions that could reveal their bank details.
ismail@khaleejtimes.com