Expats fall victim to new scam in Dubai

  DUBAI - Scammers pretending to be Dubai immigration officials are reportedly calling expatriates to extort money from them. The Indian consulate in Dubai also issued a warning to Indians in the UAE after reports of expats losing thousands of dirhams to scammers. It was revealed that the fraudsters have been calling their victims on the number +971800511, which the victims mistake for the toll free number 8005111 of the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) in Dubai. The scammers then threaten the victims by saying there are residency cases filed against them and that they have to pay amounts ranging from Dh1,000 to Dh4,500 to settle the issue. Many expats have shared their experiences in online forums, with some victims filing police cases. The victims said that the money they wired to the scammers were withdrawn in India. Urging expats to be wary against sharing their personal details on social media, Indian consul Prem Chand clarified that officials will not directly call Indian nationals regarding pending cases against them and that formal notice would only be sent through official channels. Chand also urged residents to be careful when sharing information to callers who tell them they have won raffle draws, or who are offering special promotions. DAJ/Expat Media
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