There is no stopping the scammers from inventing new fraudulent ways once the old ones are exposed. All residents can do is stay vigilant and cross-check before acting on any SMS/Email/Whatsapp msg they receive. A new ATM scam is doing the rounds in the UAE. Residents reported about messages they have been receiving from unknown numbers informing them about their ATM card being blocked. The reason for the block is failing to update info on the card, the SMS reads. The fraudsters then ask the customers to call them on a contact number provided to fix the blocked ATM card.
While most are aware of these fraudulent practices, few residents do fall victim to these scams. The first thing you need to do on receiving a message is give a call to your bank. On their part, Emirates NBD alerts their customers about vishing (voice-based phishing) every time you log in online. They have issued a warning that these scammers will try to convince bank customers about issues related to their bank account or ATM cards or ask personal details for claiming a lottery prize. The bank also sent our SMS alerts cautioning its customers. The Dubai Police have repeatedly urged residents to report and bring any new scam to their attention.