Be wary of phone scams, residents told

Etisalat, du take steps to ensure subscribers are not fooled by get-rich-quick schemes

Sending money through phone credit transfers to so-called representatives of phone companies who claim you have won a prize or a lottery is most likely a scam, according to telecommunication companies in the capital.

The warning comes in the wake of many scam calls that urge phone subscribers to send money to claim rewards.

Etisalat implements a ‘checks and balances’ system to protect its subscribers by limiting large credit transfers. According to its website, the minimum amount when sending credit is pegged at Dh5, the maximum daily amount [of credit transfer] is Dh150, with the monthly maximum at Dh1,500.

“As a mandatory requirement, with new phone subscribers, our business centres make sure to capture all customer details from his or her original ID card by using our ID readers and only if they are present in person,” etisalat told Gulf News in a statement.

Du said that it “never requests its customers to share personal information over the phone apart from asking for physical presence at authorised du shops or on the secured selfcare portal”.

Etisalat also sends a message with any SMS, which includes sensitive information such as exclusive codes and pins, asking subscribers not to share the message. According to etisalat, upon receiving a complaint it conducts an investigation, blocks the scammer’s number and all linked accounts. It uses both social and mainstream media campaigns to promote knowledge on the topic so residents can prevent themselves from falling for the fraud.

Du said that if an investigation is launched [into a subscriber’s complaint], it cooperates with authorities.

According to R.L., a media executive, many expatriates assume that an unknown international number is a relative calling from abroad.

Abu Dhabi Police officials have previously said people should be suspicious of calls which offer rewards, especially if the person has not participated in a raffle. Senior police officials state that it is highly unlikely that telecommunications providers would offer such cash prizes.

The Public Prosecution has asked the public to report fraudsters.