Fraudsters target victims through deceptive phone calls. ARCHIVE

In recent times, Dubai has witnessed a surge in a deceptive and alarming scam that preys on unsuspecting individuals through phone calls of purported prizes. Fraudsters, seeking to take advantage of people's dreams of winning big, have devised an elaborate scheme wherein they impersonate representatives from raffle draws or prize-giving organizations. With false promises of grand rewards like luxurious cars, houses, or substantial sums of money, these cold callers congratulate their victims on their apparent "win." However, their ulterior motive becomes evident as they swiftly maneuver to extract personal information, such as passport or Emirates ID details and banking credentials. We expose the modus operandi behind this phone call scam, and offer essential tips to avoid falling victim to such fraudulent activities:

Modus Operandi:

1. Cold call congratulatory messages: Scammers initiate the fraud by cold-calling individuals, pretending to be representatives of a raffle draw or prize-giving organization. They shower the recipient with false congratulations, claiming that they have won a significant prize. 2. Urgency and instructions: Fraudsters create a sense of urgency, asking the victim to take immediate action to claim the supposed prize. They instruct the individual to dial another number or input a specific code to proceed further. 3. Personal information request: Once the victim is on the other end of the line, the scammers attempt to extract sensitive personal information, such as passport or Emirates ID details, banking information, or other confidential data. 4. Promise of luxury rewards: To make the scam more convincing, the fraudsters often promise luxury rewards like a new car, a house, or a large sum of money, enticing victims to share their information willingly.

Tips on how to avoid the scam:

1. Be skeptical: If you receive a phone call out of the blue claiming you won a prize or lottery you never participated in, be cautious. Legitimate raffle draws and prize-giving organizations don't typically inform winners through unsolicited phone calls. 2. Don't share personal information: Never share your passport or Emirates ID details, banking information, or any other sensitive personal data with unknown callers. Legitimate entities will not ask for such information over the phone. 3. Verify the source: If you are unsure about the authenticity of the call, ask for the caller's name, organization, and contact information. Legitimate organizations won't mind providing this information, but scammers may become invasive. 4. Contact the official entity: If you receive a call claiming to be from a well-known organization or lottery, independently verify their contact details from official sources and get in touch with them directly to confirm if the call was genuine. 5. Report suspicious calls: If you suspect a fraudulent phone call, report it to the relevant authorities or the Dubai Police immediately. Your quick action can help prevent others from falling victim to similar scams. By being vigilant and cautious when dealing with unexpected calls offering prizes, the public can protect themselves from falling prey to these deceitful schemes. Remember, genuine prizes and lotteries will always have legitimate and transparent ways of notifying winners, and they will never ask for sensitive information over the phone.
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