Video: UAE police nab 'phone scam' gang

Photo: Abu Dhabi Police/Twitter

Abu Dhabi - The conmen were ringing up people and convincing them to share personal information on the pretext of updating the bank's system.

Published: Wed 17 Feb 2021, 1:36 PM

By
Ismail Sebugwaawo

A phone scam gang, involving four men and a woman, has been detained in the UAE for duping residents of their cash after illegally obtaining their bank details, authorities have announced.

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Abu Dhabi Police arrested the Asian gang, in coordination with their counterparts in Ajman, after receiving complaints about 'bank employees' who were ringing up people and convincing them to share personal information on the pretext of updating the bank's system.

After getting the details, the conmen used it to steal the victims' money from bank accounts and credit cards, the force said in a statement issued on Wednesday.

Police also posted a video on their social media accounts showing how the gang was arrested from their accommodations, which they used for their operations.

Twitter

Brigadier General Muhammad Suhail Al Rashidi, director of the Criminal Security Sector at Abu Dhabi Police, confirmed that the force will continue to look out for anyone seeking to undermine the security of the society by seizing people's money by means of swindling and fraud. He warned that anyone caught in such acts will face tough punishments.

Brigadier General Imran Ahmed Al Mazrouei, director of the Criminal Investigations and Investigations Directorate at Abu Dhabi Police, warned community members against falling victim to such criminals. He urged people to be vigilant and avoid sharing bank account details, stressing that text messages or phone calls made by the scammers are meant to dupe them.

“Do not share confidential bank information with anyone. Protect your bank account or credit card information, passwords for online banking, personal identification numbers for ATMs, and security number (CCV), and don’t disclose them. Bank employees will never ask you for such information,” said Al Mazroui.

According to police, the scammers make phone calls or send text messages to people claiming they have won big cash prizes through their service providers. Others pretend to be bank employees and prod victims to share their personal information so their account details in the bank systems could be updated.

The cops have always cautioned residents that communication companies in the UAE do not call their customers to inform them of winning such cash prizes.

People have been advised not to respond to unknown phone numbers. They are urged to report such cases to authorities immediately.

The hotline for reporting phone scammers is 2828 or Aman Service number 8002626.

ismail@khaleejtimes.com