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Cellphone Users Warned to Beware of Tricksters on the Prowl

DUBAI - After the e-lottery rip-offs, scamsters are now targeting residents of UAE with get-rich-quick schemes through SMStexts and telephone calls.

Asha Devi, a resident of Sharjah, received a text message from an international number which said, “Congratulations your mobile number has won 300,000 pounds in the on going COCACOLA PROMOTION. For claims contact00447035931076, or e-mail cocacolaoffice@ promoclaim.com.”

Asha said, “I received a call from a man, who identified himself as Dr. Dave Smith. He congratulated me and said my number had been chosen in a random draw and I had won 300,000 pounds. He noted my e-mail address and later I received an e-mail which gave a verification code, and said that my winnings had been transferred to a bank account in the United Kingdom.

To get the entire amount I needed to obtain an Encrypt Activation Card, which was available only in the UK. “Since I couldn’t purchase the card from UAE, the e-mail requested me to go to any Al Ansari Money Exchange, and make a payment of 1,250 pounds, after which I was to reply back with a scanned copy of the payment receipt and a copy of my identification card.

Each time I received an e-mail, I would receive a text message or a telephone call from him to check if I received the e-mail or not.” It was then that Asha decided to run a check on the Coca Cola website, where the company denied participating in a promotional lottery of any sort.

“After I went through the website, I was convinced that this was a scam, so I ceased all contacts with them,” she said. Hari prasad, a resident of Dubai, told Khaleej Times, “I received a message from a number which said that I had won a lottery of 450,000 pounds courtesy Nokia Asia Promotion. When I called back on the same number to enquire, the respondent asked me for my bank account details. When they enquired for personal details, I smelt something fishy.

So I discontinued all contacts with them.” Meraj Fathima, a resident of Sharjah, also got a text message fromNokia, saying she had won 172,000 pounds. “I actually believed that I had won, but my husband who had heard of such scams, toldmeto not to fall in the trap.” Tala Toukan, Communications Manager, Lower Gulf Nokia Middle East and North Africa, said, “We are aware of several hoax messages sent via SMS texts and e-mails. The messages have been sent via parties that are not associated with Nokia in anyway.

“We are cooperating with relevant authorities to try and curb this activity.” The company has asked people not to respond to the semessages or pass them on, as it is possible that by replying to such e-mails or taking the requested actions personal information could be misused by the originators of the message or others.

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