Abu Dhabi: After a hard day's work as a cleaner at a government department, Ahmad (name changed) headed off to one of the busiest streets in the emirate to make some extra cash by selling phone cards.
Standing at the corner of a street he had phone cards worth thousands of dirham's tucked away in his pockets. It never occurred to him what he is doing was illegal, he says.
"I earn Dh600 per month from my regular job. How can I and my family in Bangladesh survive?" he asked.
He was recently conned by a man impersonating a CID (Criminal Investigation Department) officer.
"About 7.30 in the evening, a man pulled over in his black sports car where I was selling the phone cards," said Ahmad. "I thought he was a customer when he came and asked for a prepaid card. When I gave him one, he asked for my labour card."
Ahmad panicked when the man told him he is from the CID. "He told me to hand over all the phone cards, my mobile and labour card. I quickly gave it to him out of fear and begged him for mercy. I told him I was poor and this is how I made extra money."
Easy prey
The man ordered Ahmad to get in his car. He was handcuffed. "The car stopped in front of a mosque and the man told me to go in and pray and to promise him that I will not do such things in future," he said.
Ahmad went in to pray and when he returned, the man had disappeared.
This case is not an isolated one. Dozens of people have been tricked by such impostors who target the vulnerable in various emirates.
"Those people who are working here illegally are easy prey," said a police officer. "Most of them will not lodge a complaint for fear of action against them. It's a very simple scheme."
Another man who also sells phone cards, said the fraudster had a gun with him. "He pointed it at me and told me to give him all I had," he added.
"His car even had a police siren on the roof."
"There are times when those who involve in illegal activities, like using the service of a prostitute, they are also easy targets," said the police officer. "When the person comes out of a hotel, the fake CID man approaches him and tricks him. The victim will rarely complain."
Sometimes such situations can turn into a disaster, such as the incident when a group tried to rob a brothel and one of them inadvertently got killed, said the police officer.
Action: Ask 'CID' for their ID
"The biggest problem is creating awareness among the public about CID impersonators," says a senior police officer.
- He advises that people should report such activities to avoid more such cases.
- If you are approached by some who claims to be from the CID, ask for their ID.
- Check the card carefully.
- If you suspect the person is a fake call 999 immediately.
