Samsung cuts through the flaff with its Galaxy Tab S6 Lite, providing all the essential features you need at an affordable price
tech reviews9 hours ago
Scammers and fraudsters have become bolder and are now using scare tactics to extract money from unsuspecting people. Many gullible residents have lost hundreds of thousands of dirhams, authorities said.
Phone fraudsters now call people directly or send them a WhatsApp message to tell them that their ATM or credit cards are blocked and they need to call a certain number to fix the problem, Abdullah Buali, information security analyst at UAE's Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA), said during a live podcast by Khaleej Times on Thursday.
The podcast was part of the social media campaign by TRA and KT on digital awareness and cybersecurity. Buali said one of the reasons given by scammers is the failure to update information on the card. Many residents fall victim to this scam and give out sensitive information, including the fail-safe one-time password (OTP) sent to bank customers.
"The numbers are not toll free and usually from places that are off-the-grid. The caller is charged instantly so it is very impor-tant not to call them back," Buali said.
"Residents can block the number but, more importantly, they should report any fraudulent calls to the authorities," noted Buali, adding that the TRA is working closely with authorities to crack down the scammers.
The TRA official said people should report any suspicious calls by dialling the non-emergency toll free number 901 or registering complaints online at www.ecrime.ae. He also pointed out that banks do not ask for updates or such information through the phone by calling customers.
"Report it (fraudulent call) to authorities. If the authorities don't receive any complaints, how can they be aware and act on them," he said.
Police recently arrested 25 suspects who were members of different gangs involved in phone call fraud operating in Sharjah and Ajman.
Also in April this year, the police carried out a major bust of phone scammers who promised residents cash prizes. The victims were asked to transfer their telephone recharge credit in exchange for receiving the prize money that never existed.
Back in June, Khaleej Times joined the Dubai Police and Emirates NBD in the #SecureYourAccount campaign. The police said the number of cybercrime cases has been going up in recent years. - angel@khaleejtimes.com
Samsung cuts through the flaff with its Galaxy Tab S6 Lite, providing all the essential features you need at an affordable price
tech reviews9 hours ago
The country has several beaches and with that comes countless options to indulge in a hearty breakfast
food9 hours ago
In a touching Instagram post, Bipasha shared adorable pictures of themselves
entertainment9 hours ago
In this opulent saga, Bhansali delves into the world of Basra pearls
entertainment9 hours ago
The news comes just two days after his rape conviction was overturned by the New York Court of Appeals
entertainment9 hours ago
The AFI Life Achievement Award is the highest accolade granted by the American Film Institute
entertainment9 hours ago
The paths of these two stars have intersected on several occasions due to their association with the luxury brand Bulgari
entertainment9 hours ago
The students' demands range from a ceasefire in Israel's war with Hamas to calls for universities to stop investing in Israeli enterprises
world10 hours ago