Gang arrested in connection to mobile phone scam in Abu Dhabi



Ten men were arrested in Abu Dhabi on Sunday for scamming mobile phone users out of money through fake promotional offers.

The gang, all of Asian origin, would send out SMS messages or call people persuading them to transfer money to currency exchange companies or phone credits as fees to receive prizes.

Police at Al Rahba Station first became aware of the scam after receiving reports from people who had been tricked into spending their savings on fake prizes, Brigadier Rashid Al Mesmari, Director of the External Regions Police of the Criminal Security Sector said.

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Police investigated the matter, identified the suspects and tracked their movements – which they described as being similar to a spider’s webs, reported state news agency Wam.

The gang was arrested in an operation code-named "The Spiders". Police also seized forged documents, devices and tools, as well as phones and cards used in the fraud.

Brig Al Mesmari warned mobile phone users to be wary of such scams and to report any suspected fraudulent messages to police immediately to avoid others being scammed.

UPI facts

More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions

How to avoid crypto fraud
  • Use unique usernames and passwords while enabling multi-factor authentication.
  • Use an offline private key, a physical device that requires manual activation, whenever you access your wallet.
  • Avoid suspicious social media ads promoting fraudulent schemes.
  • Only invest in crypto projects that you fully understand.
  • Critically assess whether a project’s promises or returns seem too good to be true.
  • Only use reputable platforms that have a track record of strong regulatory compliance.
  • Store funds in hardware wallets as opposed to online exchanges.
Water waste

In the UAE’s arid climate, small shrubs, bushes and flower beds usually require about six litres of water per square metre, daily. That increases to 12 litres per square metre a day for small trees, and 300 litres for palm trees.

Horticulturists suggest the best time for watering is before 8am or after 6pm, when water won't be dried up by the sun.

A global report published by the Water Resources Institute in August, ranked the UAE 10th out of 164 nations where water supplies are most stretched.

The Emirates is the world’s third largest per capita water consumer after the US and Canada.

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