Dozens of ‘conmen’ arrested in crackdown on financial crime
Fraudsters using software to sound like a bank on the phone to get their victim’s account details and Snapchat scammers taking money for discounted products that are never delivered are just some of the methods being used to trick people into parting with their cash.
Dubai Police revealed that more than 50 alleged con artists had been arrested in the first half of this year for being involved in 95 financial crimes across the emirate.
The cold-calling crackdown comes as scammers use increasingly advanced and technology-orientated methods of thieving from innocent victims.
A gang of 16 were operating out of a flat in Deira, where they were allegedly caught using a spoof calling application to trick people into believing they were speaking to their bank and then getting them to hand over their private account details. This gang was arrested in April.
Cold callers also promise cash prizes or advertise cheap flats for rent to lure victims.
Forty others arrested were allegedly calling victims and promising cash prizes worth Dh200,000 in return for a fee.
Police tracked down the suspects and found they were living in two flats in Fareej Al Murr.
The suspects were arrested in August and police confiscated a large number of mobile phones and Sim cards registered in other people’s names.
“People should be cautious when strangers contact them offering ways to get richer,” said Col Salah Juma Buosaibah, the director of the anti-economic crimes department at Dubai Police. “People must never exchange information about their bank accounts or send fees in return for cash prizes.”
The elderly and very young are most vulnerable, police said.
“When a victim of fraud sends an amount of money to scammers, they will ask for more money and the victim continues to do so thinking they will receive a prize,” Col Buosaibah said.
“Signs of fraud are evident when someone is calling from a mobile number claiming the victim has won a cash prize in return for transfer fees, or an online advertisement offering massive discounts.”
Emails promising an unclaimed inheritance or cheap air tickets are other popular tactics used by con artists, police said.
Scammers tell the person that they are legally entitled to claim the inheritance because a distant relative has died without a will.
The targeted person is told he or she can inherit the fortune by following a legal procedure but that there are fees involved that must be paid up front.
Fake business-class air tickets are also being advertised online at great prices but, after payment has been made, the buyer discovers that the tickets do not exist.
One of the cases investigated by police involved a man looking for an apartment to rent.
He found an online advertisement for a flat at a knock-down price, contacted the number listed on the advertisement and arranged a viewing.
The scammer took the apartment’s key from a watchman in the building, claiming he wanted to rent the apartment for himself.
He then met the interested party and requested a hefty deposit while posing as a real estate broker.
“The man was surprised when he found out that he had been scammed,” said Col Buosaibah.
“We advise the public to choose products on advertisements from trustful sources.”