By: Times News Service
Muscat: There has been a 25 per cent increase in cases of electronic fraud reported by the Royal Oman Police in 2020.
A number of these fraudulent cases occur through unsuspecting victims being duped by social media sites, or through ads featuring fake companies that promise high financial returns in a short time, said Lieutenant Colonel Jamal Al Quraishi, Director General of Inquiries and Criminal Investigations.
Those under the age of 18 are most vulnerable to financial blackmail,” he said. “Many have fallen victim to posts or ads promoting fake trading practices because they feature celebrities. To protect them and many others, there must be increased awareness of cybercrime.”
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Dubai: Around 8,000 phone numbers used by scammers have been blocked this year, Dubai Police revealed on Wednesday.
Launching a campaign to raise awareness among the public about fake calls and tricks people use to extort money, Colonel Saeed Al Hajiri, Director of Cyber-Crimes Department in Dubai Police, said that despite law enforcement teams cracking down on scammers, such scams can be effectively dealt with only when people are aware and do not fall prey to them.
“Dubai Police arrested 86 suspects in 400 fraud complaints this year. We need more people to be aware of the scam and not to give their bank details to anonymous callers who pose as bank employees or government officials,” Col Al Hajiri said at a virtual workshop organised by Dubai Police.