Gang steals bank data in Sharjah, 'offers 50% off on bills'

Sharjah - The gang of seven Pakistanis allegedly hunted for potential 'customers' on the Internet and lured them with offers of 50 per cent discounts on their bills.

A gang that specialised in stealing credit card data online has been busted in Sharjah.
The gang of seven Pakistanis allegedly hunted for potential 'customers' on the Internet and lured them with offers of 50 per cent discounts on their bills.
The gang then used the credit card details to make the payments in full, and charge 'customers' 50 per cent, Colonel Ibrahim Mussbah Al Ajill, Director of Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in Sharjah, told Khaleej Times.
"For instance, if someone had a mobile phone bill of Dh1,000, the suspects would charge just Dh500 to make the payment in full," said Col Al Ajill. The gang also used the details to make online purchases, the police said.
One of the victims lodged a police complaint saying unknown persons had used his credit card to make online purchases. The victim became aware of the crime when he received a notification SMS from his bank informing him that his credit card had been used for making some online purchases.
A team of CID officers identified one of the suspects during the course of investigation and arrested him. He led the police to the rest of the suspects.
The gang members reportedly told the police that they dealt with someone based outside the country who sent them stolen credit card details to make online purchases.
Two of the suspects were arrested in Dubai in coordination with the Dubai Police.
afkarali@khaleejtimes.com

• Sharjah