Scam calls continue to become rampant across the UAE in a way that exposes the residents to risks of financial loss, data loss and emotional harassment. UAE residents were most affected as a cross section of them gets up to three calls from the fake callers daily. Pertinently, specialists have opined that interacting with such calls further increases the hazards that range from identity theft to psychological control.
Now that you know what scam callers want, you need to understand what they do so that you can protect yourself from their tricks.
Criminals acquire phone numbers in all sorts of ways including, hacking personal data, social media sites and offline directories. They always use hi-tech techniques which can for example make ‘incoming calls’ seem like they originate from genuine people, or AS languages tools that make fake. Key tactics include:
Hard selling, for example, stating that some offer is going to be closed soon due to legal action and fines.
Asking such information as emirates id, passwords, or payment in the form of gift cards or even cryptocurrency.
Prides itself with false promises such as with free credit card that comes with no interest, or winning a contest that never existed.
The scammers also take advantages of some categories of people such as expatriates, elderly people, and people who are relatively new in the country and may not have adequate information on legal requirements.
Steps to Protect Yourself
- Do Not Engage: It is now universally discouraged to engage in discussions with scammers as those calls are always fake. You can even record the word ‘yes’ and use it in the wrong context.
- Hang Up Immediately: It is ideal not to disclose any information about yourself or your coworker.
- Block and Report: Making use of your phone carrier’s programs for blocking the numbers and reporting scams through the UAE e-crime portal.
- Enhance Security: If any data in shared unintentionally then the passwords should be changed and if calling numbers are shared then some apps are to be used to block spam calls.
- Stay Alert: Understand이고 such signs as pressure, requests for money trace or any kind of influence, or getting too personal with the recipient.
Legal Actions and Penalties
A victim is encouraged to assist law enforcement agencies by giving as much information about the particular scam as possible. Criminals will be subject to heavy sanctions: fines of from AED 30 000 up to 50 000, imprisonment for the term of up to two years.
This measures are particularly strict in the case of the UAE, which wants to ensure residents’ protection against fraud-related risks. People should keep on being alert and use measurable approaches on how they can otherwise not be duped.
