Photo for illustrative purposes only. ARCHIVE

UAE residents have been warned about suspicious and fraudulent online activity during the holiday season to avoid financial losses. The importance of the general public's role in preventing phone, SMS, and social media scams was emphasized by Al Ansari Exchange, a foreign exchange and international money transfer business based in the UAE, to prevent becoming a victim of such crimes, particularly during the holiday season. People have been urged to verify any suspicious messages, emails, or phone calls and to report them to the appropriate authorities through "My Safe Society" – an app launched by the UAE's federal Public prosecution, the Dubai Police at their toll-free number (901) or through their online platform "e-crime," or the Abu Dhabi Pol. As knowledge is the first line of defense against becoming a victim of such crimes, Mohammed Bitar, Deputy CEO of Al Ansari Exchange, stated: "It is critical that we enhance community awareness about digital frauds and scams since knowledge is the first line of defense against being a victim of such crimes. People should be warned not to respond to suspicious calls and fraudulent communications. But in the unfortunate event where they become a victim of digital fraud, they should not hesitate to report it to the authorities to ensure stringent action against the fraudsters to protect and defend the stability of the community." Through SMS, flyers, and social media channels, Al Ansari Exchange has started several awareness campaigns for its customers. The business reaffirmed that it neither requests personal information over the phone from winners of its promotions and campaigns nor assesses fees for prize delivery. To confirm the information and prevent falling victim to fraud, they emphasized that people who receive contact about prizes should go to their local Al Ansari Exchange branch or dial the customer service line at 600546000. BKM/ Expat Media
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