Etisalat Warns of Scams as Residents Lose Thousands of Dirhams

UAE residents

Etisalat by e& has recently issued an advisory to caution residents about a surge in online scams, urging them to avoid unsafe links and be vigilant about sharing personal information. This warning comes in response to several incidents where individuals have lost significant sums of money due to fraudulent websites masquerading as the official telecom operator.

 Incident of Online Fraud

Dubai resident U.B. recounted her experience to Khaleej Times, explaining how she fell victim to a scam. She received a call from a close friend asking her to recharge his e-sim. Trusting the request, she searched online for the Etisalat website. Unfortunately, the first link she found was a fake site that closely resembled the official one but had an extra letter in the URL. Despite her cautious nature, U.B. did not notice the subtle spelling error. She proceeded to enter her card details and received a One-Time Password (OTP) for verification. In her haste, she failed to thoroughly read the OTP message, which led to her entering it on the fraudulent site. Consequently, Dh1,954.75 was deducted from her account.

Reflecting on her experience, U.B. considered herself fortunate to have lost only around Dh2,000, acknowledging that others have faced losses up to Dh30,000. She emphasized the importance of learning from such incidents and vowed to only recharge through official apps or directly via her bank in the future.

 Advisory and Awareness Campaign

In response to the growing number of scams, e& has launched an awareness campaign in collaboration with the Cyber Security Council of the UAE. The campaign provides consumers with several tips to avoid falling prey to scams. Key advice includes never sharing OTPs or clicking on unfamiliar links without verification. The campaign highlights that legitimate company representatives will never request money or gifts and will only use OTPs or security pins for verification purposes.

The campaign identifies four primary channels used by scammers: email, voice calls, social media or WhatsApp, and SMS. It also lists key indicators of fraudulent communication for each channel, helping users to recognize and avoid scams.

Expert Insights on Fraud Prevention

Abi-Gail Marshman, Head of Financial Crime Consulting for the Middle East & North Africa at FTI Consulting, emphasized the importance of skepticism and careful consideration before acting on any suspicious communication. She noted that scam tactics often involve creating a sense of urgency, which can prevent victims from thinking clearly. Marshman advised individuals to take a moment to calm down and critically assess whether a call or link is legitimate. For instance, if the call appears to be from a bank, it is safer to disconnect and call the bank back directly.

Marshman also pointed out a cultural aspect contributing to the issue. She explained that residents of the UAE might be more susceptible to scams because they live in a relatively safe environment and are less accustomed to expecting crime. This sense of security can lead to a relaxed attitude, making individuals more vulnerable to fraudulent schemes. In contrast, people in other parts of the world, where crime is more prevalent, tend to be more vigilant and cautious.

 Conclusion

Etisalat by e&'s advisory and the broader awareness campaign aim to educate the public about the risks of online scams and provide practical steps to enhance personal security. By fostering a culture of skepticism and vigilance, the initiative hopes to reduce the number of residents falling victim to such schemes. U.B.'s story serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of being cautious and verifying the authenticity of online transactions to protect personal and financial information.