How these UAE ‘bankers’ cheat clients with magic pen, 0% credit card offers

The pen given to the victims had ink that could be erased either by volatilisation or exposure to heat.- Alamy Image

Fraudsters have got their hands on what is known as 'magic pens' to cheat bank customers, the Sharjah Police have warned. The police have registered 10 cases of cheque fraud committed using these pens - which have erasable ink - this year so far.
According to the police, the criminals pose as bank representatives and offer gullible customers credit cards with a 'zero per cent interest rate'. After that, they would collect a cheque signed with the 'magic pen' from them with the amount for the credit limit. However, instead of getting a credit card with great offers, they would find that an amount much higher than what they wrote out a cheque for was withdrawn from their account.
Brigadier Abdul Gader Al Ameri, director of the Sharjah Forensic laboratory, said investigations revealed that the pen given to the victims had ink that could be erased either by volatilisation or exposure to heat.
He advised residents to use their own pens to sign on agreements, as details entered using a "magic pen could be erased and altered without a trace".
"At the forensic laboratory, we use a certain type of radiation that helps us see the original words written with the pen and the changes made to it. We have examined 10 such cases this year so far," Brigadier Al Ameri stressed.
He said most of the victims in such cases were company owners, who were approached by criminals posing as insurance representatives, bill collectors or real estate agents.
Brigadier Al Ameri stressed on the importance of raising awareness among bank clients and business owners about the so called magic pen.

A case of forensic brilliance!