Tuesday: 18 August 2009 :
Cell phone fraud in names of Arab girls
Abu Dhabi police has detected a new method of fraud through SMS and fraudulent mobile phone calls. The modes operandi is to use names of Arab girl's to attract their victims, both nationals and expatriates. Unfortunately, some people are still fall victims to such fraud, in spite of warnings issued by the police.
Lt. Colonel (Dr.) Rashid Mohammad Bu Rasheed, Head of Organized Crime Section, at ADP, provided some examples of the new modus operandi. The victim receives an SMS in Arabic and English stating “My father is in hospital and he needs an urgent medical assistance. Would you please send Dh10 as a phone balance to the phone number so and so and you will be rewarded in heaven.
Your sister in need of …., Sometimes the first word of the message changes to my grandfather or my mother and the name of the sender also keep changing.
Other examples of cheating includes, Mabrook ‘Congratulations’ you have won a car of so and so type, Call this number … to collect your prize after paying the prescribed fees.
Another such case goes like this. Dear sister …. I am leaving through …. Airport. Would you please send me a phone balance to this number ….. Or “Congratulations, you have won a prize for number ….. Would you please call the phone number …..
Some criminals send SMS from other countries using SIM cards they have had already. At the end of the message they mention the name of an Arab girl.
Bu Raseed urges people not to fall victims for such fraud. He also requested people not to be carried away by Chat Rooms, false advertisements and e-mails on the Internet.
He has given examples crimes such as fake electronic payment cards, fraudulent auctions, false job opportunities, fraudulent post parcels, false lottery prizes, electronic assault on ATM and credit cards cheating.
He regretted that some victims do not report these cases to authorities concerned for the fear that either they think that they will be considered as a part of it or for social reasons or considerations. He warned the criminals for the misuse of technology and said that they will sooner or later be brought before the law.
Ministry of Interior stresses the importance of family role in educating and protecting children against the risks and negative aspects of technology. Families should monitor and direct their children towards the proper use of technology. He called upon concerned authorities and community members to play their role in educating people on the risks of misuse of technology.
He urged the public to report any calls, electronic messages or SMS that are intended for a criminal act, whether they are local or international. He stressed the importance of cooperation between police and communities to combat such crimes and arrest the culprits.
It is worth mentioning that the Department of Technical Affairs and Security Media, the Secretariat General of HH the Deputy prime Minister and Minister of Interior’s Office, has announced several times in different Medias that the Criminal Investigation Department had received 18 complaints about fraudulent acts through the SMS, where the criminals conned victims. Nationals, Arabs and Asians, amounts ranging from around Dh 2500- 95,000.
