Dubai expat poses as women on social media to get cash, gifts from youths

A man, who created five fake accounts on Snapchat posing as women and conned 50 youths in two years, was nabbed by the Dubai Police.  
The GCC national enjoys a "good reputation" in his social circle, and holds a prestigious position in a company, the police said. He draws a "reasonably good salary", yet the man tried to make a quick buck through Snapchat, they added. 
He used photographs of beautiful women to lure the youngsters into giving gifts and money for striking friendships, said Brigadier Jamal Salem Al-Jallaf, director of the Criminal Investigation Department.
The matter came to light when a Gulf woman accidentally discovered that someone had used her pictures and changed her name in the fake account. She immediately reported it through police's e-crime platform, Al-Jallaf pointed out.
The Cyber Crime police patrols monitored the suspect's activities for a week. He was later arrested and referred to the public prosecution.
Al-Jallaf said: "We discovered that the Snapchat conman had been following a criminal and malicious method for two years. The man created fake accounts with women's names and used pictures of beautiful Gulf women. He then used sophisticated programmes to upload pictures. These accounts were meant to trap and deceive young men by asking them to present valuable gifts and transfer money in a certain account."
Capt Abdullah Al Shehhi, deputy director of the Cyber Crimes investigation, said that popular personalities should report their fake accounts via the free e-crime platform so that the police can arrest those behind them.
He added: "We urge all users of social media to be careful, and not to trust strangers or even accept invites from those who you do not know well. Most importantly, do not publish personal images even if the account is private because it can be leaked."
"The public should not hesitate to report cyber crimes, especially at the e-crime platform, as the police receive report around the clock, and deal with them confidentially."
amira@khaleejtimes.com
 
 

• Dubai