Residents warned of scam messages

Dubai: Police are urging the public not to respond to scam text messages or phone calls, and instead report them to the authorities.

Brigadier Khalil Ebrahim Al Mansouri, Director General of the General Department for Criminal Investigation (CID) at Dubai Police, said: "Anyone who receives such a message or call must report it immediately at the closest police station or through 999.

"Dubai Police is collaborating with both etisalat and Al Ameen service in order to arrest these offenders," Brigadier Al Mansouri said.

Dubai Police said offenders used international and local numbers in their scam. Abdul Al Basit, a Gulf News reader, said: "Around eight months ago I received an international call [claiming to be] from Pakistan telling me that I have won Dh200,000.

"They also asked me to buy 15 etisalat recharge cards worth Dh25 each and to tell them the serial numbers ... I called etisalat and they denied that they had a branch in Pakistan."

Another Gulf News reader complained of a similar incident that occurred last week. Javed Iqbal said: "I've been receiving these calls for over a year now, I just ignore them."

Contact: Call 999

Anyone who receives such fraudulent messages or calls must report it immediately at the closest police station or call 999.

Have you ever received a call or text about one of these scams? What did you do? If you reported it, how did the authorities handle it?