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Etisalat subscribers hit by phishing scams

Dubai - The bogus messages on Twitter urge the customers to call on a certain number in order to claim the prize.

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Many Etisalat subscribers have reported bogus telecom employees calling them and informing of winning huge cash prizes. The fake callers try to trap innocent telecom service subscribers by telling them that they have won lucky draw and ask to follow certain steps to claim the prize money. In the fraudulent call, people are lured to make transactions in order to get hold of their bank details.
After an increase in such bogus calls, Etisalat customers took to Twitter to warn against the such fraudsters. The bogus messages on Twitter urge the Etisalat user to call on a certain number in order to claim the prize.
One of the fraudulent messages on Twitter read:'Hi how are you my name is Mohammed Abdullah I m working the etisalat company and your number is win prize etisalat company and export 20/20 and you win 20,000 dirham 8997112212 this is verify number you see this number your etisalat sim card back side number is Sam Sam after you call me company be number 0567849923 bye have a nice day'.
Here are some of the fraudulent messages on Twitter:

Salaam @AlAmeenService, a friend of mine has been scammed of nearly AED 30K by one of those @etisalat lottery scam! ??

I wanna guide him to a proper economic crime unit. Should I ask him to call/email u? Or, some other dept?

It happened just today n I wish u nab the culprits ??
- Naveed DIWAN (@byDiwan) April 1, 2018

Something for you to look into @dutweets @Etisalat_Care @expo2020dubai @DubaiDutyFree I doubt I would be contacted like this on @WhatsApp if I won Dh 200,000. Specially because someone was happy about 2018 ?? #dubai #scam pic.twitter.com/UCoP3UwKSi
- Jay Mathur (@jaymathur) March 30, 2018

Both the UAE telecom companies Etisalat and du, regularly warn customers against such fraud, be it lucky draw, promotions, or discounts.
 After recent reports of such fake messages doing rounds, Etisalat said in a reply to a customer on Twitter: 'Hello, this is scam, please DM your mobile number and also you can report this to police for further action'.

Hello, this is scam, please DM your mobile number and also you can report this to police for further action. -Ashraf
- EtisalatCare (@Etisalat_Care) March 30, 2018

Recently, 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.

#????_?????? ???? ?? ??????? ?????????? ??? ????? ??????? ?????????. pic.twitter.com/B7jpShxj5X
- ???? ?????? (@ADPoliceHQ) April 2, 2018

Dubai Police have urged people to ignore such phone calls and messages and refrain from paying some fee by wiring money or by transferring phone credit in order to claim the prize money. Such fraud calls should immediately be reported to police and people should not divulge any personal details or make transactions that could reveal their bank details.