Etisalat warns customers of phone call scam

PRIZE SCAM: Etisalat customers are being targeted by a Pakistani phone scam. (Getty Images)

Etisalat has issued a warning to its customers of a scam that involves fraudsters posing as its employees who tell customers they have won cash prizes, it was announced on Sunday.

The Abu Dhabi-based telecommunications company has said the scam asks people for their personal information so they can claim the prize, which is then used to rip them off.

The company has confirmed it is not running any prize schemes at present.

And is urging customers not to give out any confidential information such as bank account details, PINs, eVouchers or recharge card numbers to unknown callers who contact them via phone, SMS or email.  

In a statement it says the origin of the scam is Pakistan and is not limited to UAE but is an international phenomenon.

"No such raffle or lucky draw campaign is currently being run by Etisalat. Etisalat promotions are well advertised in the media and the winners are informed through a standardised process." it said.

"In case of any confusion, customers should call 101 and verify the calls or SMS they have received," the statement added.

Earlier last week, Mobily also issued an alert for its customers to beware of similar prank calls.

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READERS' COMMENTS

He strikes back
Posted by Tony on Sunday 23 August 2009 at 17:40 UAE time


Just got a call from the same described person with a thick pakistani urdu accent. Since i had read this earlier, I gave him all the slangs i knew. He definitely is pakistani as he started abusing India...This time the Number is +971 50 8917469.

Saiful
Posted by Ali, Dubai, UAE on Tuesday 28 July 2009 at 11:28 UAE time


Dear Saiful

Sorry to say but your own stupidity led to you losing money. Its like people who wire thousands of dirhams to some fraud in Africa and then cry after the money isnt returned. There are scams difficult to detect, but any person will smell something fishy when a caller asks him to call back, something which genuine companies never do.

Got a scam call.
Posted by Saiful Islam, Dubai, Uae on Monday 27 July 2009 at 17:00 UAE time


I had the exact same con from a no. +971 566495691, a guy with a heavy Pakistani accent named Nadeem called to say I have won Dhs 200,000 and I should call him back in 10 mins and give my name & address. After that I have to buy 2 x 500 Dhs. Phone cards and give him the numbers and he would give me teh check number of the prize and Etisalat people would come to my address and give me teh cheque with TV interview blah blah blah ... That's when I knew it was a scam & hung up. But I had given to him two hundred etisalat voucher which is 61661 72517 84523 and 61133 08107 94955. I am recived poor amaunt of salary. etisalat can do to stop them.

Same Con with me today
Posted by KP on Thursday 23 July 2009 at 21:09 UAE time


I had the exact same con from a no. +971 50 8375538, a guy with a heavy Pakistani accent named Nadeem called to say I have won Dhs 200,000 and I should call him back in 10 mins and give my name & address. After that I have to buy 2 x 500 Dhs. Phone cards and give him the numbers and he would give me teh check number of the prize and Etisalat people would come to my address and give me teh cheque with TV interview blah blah blah ... That's when I knew it was a scam & hung up.

I called teh Police, they told me it was a scam and to go report it to the nearest Police Station.

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