Today’s high-tech world makes it a great breeding ground for scammers and fraudsters to do what they do best, steal. We feel it’s important to alert people on the most recent strategies used by these fraudsters to trick them into taking their well-earned money.

While e-commerce has made purchasing easier, it has also made theft easier. With benefits like cheaper prices, fast ordering and delivery and comparisons a click-away, consumers are quick to put down their credit card information. Scammers can easily compromise these situations using techniques that customers won’t find suspicious. One way is for them to use official company names or popular brands and e-mail you a link to a website that looks exactly like the company’s website, it might even have the same URL, this page will have a payment link, but when you click on the URL you will be re-directed to another website, and from there they can either take the AED200 that you willingly put in, or they can attempt to steal more since they have your card and detailed information at hand.

Scammers sometimes use the fundraiser technique where they bank on people’s emotions. Cyber criminals set up an online fund-raiser with a very tragic story to pull at the heart strings and encourage people to donate to the alleged cause. However, the cause turns out to be fake and the individual(s) take the money for themselves.

Regardless of the technique used, the key takeaway here is to be wary of malicious individuals attempting to steal your money.

Here are some ways to protect yourself:

1. Do not open links or attachments from unknown sources. They can contain viruses or malware.
2. Always check the website URL before putting in your card information or making any purchases. You can sometimes depict scams from the link itself.
3. Don’t give your bank details, credit card information or any other personal detail to businesses promising to send you prizes.
4. Always check credible review sites to see if these brands are legitimate.
   For more tips on how to protect yourself from scammers, please check the UAE’s Central Bank Website on CONSUMER BEWARE – FRAUDLENT ACTIONS DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC (At Al Ansari Exchange, we never ask you to disclose your personal data or ask you to pay any fee to receive your prize).

For more tips on how to protect yourself from scammers, please check the UAE’s Central Bank Website on CONSUMER BEWARE – FRAUDLENT ACTIONS DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC

We urge members of the local community to be more cautious of suspicious emails, text messages and phone calls that they might receive and report them to the respective authorities.

Dubai

Police’s toll-free number 901 or via its online platform “e-crime”

Abu Dhabi Police’s “Aman” service hotline on 8002626, or on www.adpolice.gov.ae

Sharjah
Police’s number is 065943228 and e-mail for cybercrimes is [email protected]