Six held for using ‘tickets purchased with forged credit cards’
dubai — Six travellers were detained on their arrival at the Dubai International Airport for using tickets purchased by international cyber gangs with forged credit cards.
Lt-Col Saeed Al Hajri, director of E-Crime Department, said the suspects from different countries bought the tickets from a website that offered tickets at a cheaper price. The arrests were made by the Dubai Police in cooperation with Emirates, Fly Dubai, Interpol and Europol.
The crime came to the fore when a Dubai-based airline suspected that some tickets were bought using fake credit cards and reported the matter to Europol and Interpol. An investigation was carried out and the six were caught at the airport on their arrival in Dubai. The suspects were referred to the Dubai Public Prosecution for further action.
Major-General Khalil Ibrahim Al It’s easy to get lured by discounts, especially on air tickets. But we should always first find out why is there a bargain in the first place. A sale by airlines or travel companies is understandable, but there are conmen. Cybergangs are thriving because we trade our integrity for a few bucks. Dubai Police have caught people who used tickets issued by cyber gangs. Hopefully this will raise awareness.
Don’t get lured by fake offers
Mansouri, assistant commander-inchief of the Dubai Police for Criminal Investigation Affairs, commended the efforts of the cybercrime department for monitoring those involved in similar fraudulent operations through their electronic patrols. He pointed out that the police have succeeded in working with airline companies to fight electronic crimes and arrest the perpetrators.
The Dubai Police have carried out five joint anti-fraud operations with the Interpol to bust international gangs involved in purchase of tickets with forged credit cards, which resulted in arrest of 141 people. The first joint operation was launched in November 2014, and so far, 61 countries, 226 airports and 69 airlines have benefited from them.
Al Hajri said due to the crackdown on cyber criminal groups, electronic frauds in the aviation
sector has reduced substantially.
Precautionary steps
Banks in the UAE are adopting necessary procedures to prevent such criminal acts. When they come across a suspicious ticket purchase, they inform the financial companies, which alert the Interpol and Europol who exert efforts to ensure that tickets are genuine, according to Al Hajri.
He added that the Dubai Police
are trying their best to check buying of tickets from suspected websites or a “third mediator”. The police are spreading awareness and urging people to buy tickets directly from the airline, or from authorised companies and agents only. The police are also working to remove the procedural gaps in the UAE banks and ensure that the official concerned takes necessary steps during the issuance of credit cards and implements
safe solutions in cooperation with the Central Bank of the UAE.
Al Hajri underlined that measures are being taken to eliminate the risks to the aviation sector. The police have updated the systems of the airlines, which has helped plug the loopholes. He said cybercriminal is an international criminal. Therefore, “as security authorities, we publish the names of those involved internationally through Interpol”.