Beware of Dh200,000 'EXPO2020' WhatsApp scam in Dubai

Dubai - Residents are asked to share private information to claim prize money.

Another lucky draw scam has gone viral in UAE - and this time it's targeting residents on WhatsApp.

The congratulatory message claims that the recipient has won Dh200,000 in a Dubai Expo 2020 lucky draw. There's only one problem - it's a phishing scam, that asks recipients to share personal information on two particular numbers to claim their big prize money.

The scam recently came to light on social media, after a local journalist tweeted about it to Etisalat. The fraudulent message said that the recipient had won Dh200,000 in a lucky draw conducted by an 'EXPO2020 department'.

Riddled with grammatical mistakes, such as the incorrect use of semicolons, spacing and basic grammar - it is a poorly composed hoax message, which residents should easily spot and avoid sharing private information by calling the numbers or messaging back.

Responding to the inquiry, Etisalat Care tweeted that they would look into the matter:

UAE authorities regularly caution residents against such online scams and hoax messages. Here are some tips to avoid scam messages.

• TECH
• Dubai