Duo incarcerated for ‘Dhs500,000 prize’
DUBAI: Two members of a gang of fraudsters in the habit of cheating clients of telecom companies in alleged Dhs500,000 prize offers have been sent to jail.
The Asian mechanic, 32, and compatriot labourer, 35, targeted a Filipino CLINIC Employee, 47, AND Conned HIM of Dhs33,000 after contacting him and telling him they were employees of a telecom company.
They obtained his bank account details, made online purchase orders and received the goods via a courier company using an Emirates ID belonging to another man. They resold them and pocketed proceeds.
The Dubai Criminal Court has jailed them for one year plus deportation over fraud, forgery on a courier company receipt, misuse of someone’s ID, impersonation and obtaining money through swindling activities.
In Bur Dubai Police Station records, the Filipino said he was on duty at the clinic when he received a phone call from someone posing as an employee from a telecom company branch in Abu Dhabi.
“He told me I won Dhs500,000 but HE HAD to irst Crosscheck my personal data including that of my bank card details…i received a message that Dhs33, 000 was withdrawn. I realised I fell victim to fraud.”
The labourer told police and prosecutors he and the mechanic worked for a fugitive Asian mastermind and the latter’s fugitive aide. They would contact telecom clients telling them they had won cash prizes.
“I would lure them to disclose their bank card numbers and PINS. I would use them to buy items online, resell them to trading stores and amass proceeds. I contacted several victims,” he reportedly confessed.
He added that he would receive Dhs1,000 a day from the mastermind. And that the mastermind and his aide were the ones giving them phone numbers of clients to contact.
“I don’t remember the name or identity of the victim in this case. I cheated so many people using the same method. I can’t remember how many people and the exact money I took from each.”
The mechanic on his part said they would contact victims randomly and ask them for details. They would order for items and receive them via various courier companies using an ID the mastermind gave them.
He explained, “The ID was seized in my apartment in Sharjah where police arrested me. The mastermind used to pay me Dhs500 daily. I don’t remember how many people we defrauded. They were many.”