The United Arab Emirates’ Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship has denied claims its system have been hacked, as it warned customers against fake text messages in circulation claiming residents could update their IDs by email or over the phone.
The authority stressed that making any updates to residents’ identification cards requires the customer to be present personally at one of the authority’s customer centres, according to a WAM state news agency report.
The report also warned of fake SMS messages in circulation which claim to be from the authority and designed to obtain personal details illegally.
“It warned the public against suspicious calls made by some persons who impersonate the authority’s employees, asking for personal information so as to update their data through the phone. It urged everyone not to disclose any data in these situations, especially banking and personal details. Updating one’s data cannot be done over the phone, the only way to do so is to visit the authority’s centres,” the authority said in a statement.
The WAM report also denied rumours that the authority’s internal systems had been hacked.
“The authority’s systems are developed according to the highest degree of protection against piracy and are equipped with the latest global programmes to ensure their safety,” the report added.
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