Dubai: First-time visitors to Dubai have been cautioned not to hand over their passports to strangers at Dubai International Airport.
Prosecutor General Sami Al Shamsi, Head of Bur Dubai Prosecution, said: “Travellers should keep their passports and personal belongings in their possession and not hand them to anyone except to the proper representative of their hosts. Before handing over your passport to anyone, these travellers should ensure that their passports in safe hands … like the PRO of the hosting agency, or the employer/sponsor,” Al Shamsi said on Monday.
His statement came in light of an Asian imposter, who swindled newcomers and stole their passports, cash and personal belongings at the airport, being referred to the Dubai Misdemeanours Court.
The Asian accused duped nearly eight newcomers using the same modus operandi.
“The suspect preyed on a number of travellers, who happened to be first-time visitors to Dubai … he used to fish for them outside the arrivals terminal and look for travellers, who seemed to be waiting for someone to pick them up. Then he would approach those individuals and identify himself as the PRO or the representative of their hosts [sponsor or employer]. The suspect used to ask the traveller for his/her passports, visa papers and ask them for money to purchase a phone and a SIM card for them. Then he would disappear shortly after taking the traveller’s belongings. The suspect had been staying in the country illegally since his visa had expired and he failed to pay the fines for overstaying,” said Al Shamsi.
Prosecutor Kulaitham Abdullah, who handed the interrogation in the case, said: “The suspect was apprehended in cooperation with the Dubai police stationed at the airport. He was spotted roaming around suspiciously at the arrivals terminal before law enforcement officers apprehended him. His facial features matched with those descriptions that were given to the police by one of the victims.”
The suspect admitted during questioning that he swindled a number of travellers, according to Abdullah, and stole their cash money, phones, passports and other belongings.
“He claimed that he swindled the victim by pretending to be the PRO of their hosts and stole their belongings outside the arrivals terminal in the same modus operandi,” she concluded.
Sources close to the case told Gulf News that a hearing will be scheduled later this month before the Misdemeanours Court.
