Dubai hotel receptionist held for cyber crime

4,000 dirhams stolen from a customer’s credit card for online purchases

dubai — The Dubai Police have arrested the receptionist of a Dubai hotel, who used credit card details of the customers to make purchases from various online stores.

A senior police official warned the public against revealing their credit card details, especially the CVV code on the back side of the card, to anybody. Revealing the details may enable others to use the card details for their own purchases, said Major Salem bin Salmeen, Director of the General Department of e-Crimes of the Dubai police.

Major Salem bin Salmeen said the Dubai Police received complaints from a GCC national via social media account about purchases made through his credit card in Dubai. He told the police that he had made a reservation on the website of a Dubai hotel and sent his credit card number and other details except the CVV number to the hotel as per the requirements on the website. However, he later cancelled the reservation and his Dubai visit.

He told the police that within a few days, he found that Dh4,000 had been deducted from his credit card by the hotel. After he did the booking, somebody from the hotel called him asked for the CVV code, which he had given without any suspicion.

After he lost the money, he came to the hotel and found out that the receptionist was the one who made the call. Upon his complaint, the Dubai police arrested the receptionist and interrogated him.

“The suspect confessed to using the card for purchases from online shops. He also admitted that he used credit card details of other 10 customers for personal purchase,” said Major Salem bin Salmeen, adding that the suspect had been referred to public prosecution.

The official urged the public to be cautious while using cards for purchases.

amira@khaleejtimes.com