Dubai: Phone scams topped the list of complaints received by police via their non-emergency call centre, police said on Tuesday.
Police received a total of 5,658 calls via the non-emergency 901 number during the first five months of 2013.
According to Munira Ahmad Al Marzouqi, head of the call centre’s Information Centre, in spite of repeated warnings people are still being taken in by phone scams.
Munira said in one case a victim transferred mobile phone credit worth Dh30,000 to a fraudster.
She said that victims believe they will win million of dirhams.
“Swindlers usually take advantage of the country’s religious and national occasions and promise their victims that they will win prizes on such occasions,” she said.
She added one conman told his victims they would win Dh1 million on UAE National Day.
Mariam Saleh at the customer service centre that she received a call from a person saying a fraudster made him transfer Dh30,000 in phone credit, Dh500 at a time.
She said the victim thought that he would win Dh1 million.
Police urged the public to avoid getting involved in such scams.
