Dubai: Dubai Police have recorded several cybercrimes amid the COVID-19 pandemic as scammers target victims seeking to buy masks and ventilators.
According to Colonel Saeed Al Hajiri, Director of Cybercrime Department at Dubai Police, the E-Crime platform to report cybercrimes in Dubai played a key role in arresting scammers who took advantage of the pandemic to scam community members.
“At the beginning of the pandemic, gangs promoted online masks and ventilators. They were arrested and referred to the concerned authority for legal action,” said Col Al Hajiri.
According to official records, the complaints and calls related to cybercrimes rose by 3,000 per cent since the launch of the E-Crime platform since three years.
After a cagey start to the first half, Duhail managed to settle down but they were forced to wait until the 37th minute when Mohammad powered home with his left foot, which beat Saj Al Hajiri in Rayyan goal.
Duhail went into the break leading 1-0 and on resumption, they continued to pile pressure but missed a golden opportunity when Mohammed Muntari failed to connect with a well-delivered cross, with only the keeper to beat.
Muntari was again provided with another chance to make it 2-0 for the home team but he headed wide, after being teed up by Edmilson Junior from the right wing.
After investigation, the woman who used the credit card was summoned. It turned out the credit card used to pay the fines belonged to the man’s wife.
“It was a strange case because the wife didn’t know that her husband used her credit card to pay his friend’s traffic fines. The friend didn’t know that he was married and the wife didn’t know that he had a girlfriend,” Captain Al Shehi said.
Transaction alert
The wife received a notification from the bank about a transaction on her credit card.
She called the bank and froze the card before reporting the incident to Dubai Police. At the time, she believed her credit card was stolen.
Dubai: Around 8,000 phone numbers used by scammers have been blocked this year, Dubai Police revealed on Wednesday.
Launching a campaign to raise awareness among the public about fake calls and tricks people use to extort money, Colonel Saeed Al Hajiri, Director of Cyber-Crimes Department in Dubai Police, said that despite law enforcement teams cracking down on scammers, such scams can be effectively dealt with only when people are aware and do not fall prey to them.
“Dubai Police arrested 86 suspects in 400 fraud complaints this year. We need more people to be aware of the scam and not to give their bank details to anonymous callers who pose as bank employees or government officials,” Col Al Hajiri said at a virtual workshop organised by Dubai Police.