Ramadan alert: Top 5 scams to watch out for
Ramadan Mubarak to All
Intersting acrtical in a UAE newspaper same might be applicable to Qatar. For your reading pleasure
Ramadan alert: Top 5 scams to watch out for
If you haven't been a victim of a parking lot scam yet - count yourself lucky. Parking lots have become the favourite haunt of scamsters looking to con the gullible. XPRESS picks out the top five rip-offs you may come across during Ramadan and provides tips on how to spot and avoid them
- By Mazhar Farooqui, Deputy Editor, XPRESS
- Published: 00:00 July 14, 2011
1) CUT ABOVE THE REST
As you turn on the ignition, a bedraggled looking man taps on your car window. As you roll down, he thrusts his arm in your face, showing an infected open wound. The man tells you he got injured at his work place and asks for help. To make his story even more believable he pulls out a doctor’s prescription. But you don’t want to see it. You’re already cringing in horror and want to throw up. You want him to go away so you quickly dig into your pocket and hand him some money.
GOING ON SINCE: Around four-five years with some variations. Instead of the burnt/ bandaged arm ruse, some con artists cash in on your emotions by pulling open their shirt to reveal an IV bag taped to their abdomen with needles et al.
AREA OF OPERATION: Sandy parking lots in Dubai and Sharjah. Cases have been reported from Ajman and Abu Dhabi too.
TOP TIP: Unless you don’t care where your money is going, don’t hand it over. Offer to take the man to a doctor or hospital for treatment or pretend to call the police and see how fast your ‘sick‘ patient takes to his heels.
2) SUIT YOURSELF, SIR
A well-dressed European asks you for directions. He claims he’s an Italian designer who’s in town for a garment exhibition and has some Armani or Gucci designer suits left over. They cost a fortune, but he offers to sell them at Dh200 apiece, sometimes even less as he’s in a hurry to fly back. He’ll even show you a passport, plane ticket (probably fakes) to prove his identity. The suits are cheap counterfeits, of course. But then, if you’re buying out of a trunk of a car you can’t expect anything better, can you?
GOING ON SINCE: For at least six years with some variations.
AREA OF OPERATION: Mostly around Bur Dubai and Deira.
TOP TIP: Trust your instincts. If the price is too good to be true, it probably isn’t.
3) THE LONGRIDERS
A car with an Oman registration flags you down. Before you can say ‘MUSCAT’, the driver points at his co-passengers – invariably a woman and a child – and tells you his sob story. It goes like this: His car has broken down and he has spent whatever money he had to get it fixed. Now he’s left with no money for petrol and, in some cases, baby formula food. So, could you lend him Dh50? A stranded family in distress. You’d have to have a heart of stone to refuse to help. Your overwhelming urge to do a good deed in Ramadan gets the better of you and you fork out the money, not realising that you’ve been duped. On a good day, the ‘stranded’ couple make a cool Dh500.
GOING ON SINCE: For as long as one can remember.
AREA OF OPERATION: All over the UAE .
TOP TIP: Beware the pull on your heart strings. It’s your purse-strings that are being reached for.
4) THE VOLUNTARY CAR MECHANICS
Your car is not starting or you have a flat tyre. As you struggle with the ignition/jack, a man appears out of the blue. He says he’s a mechanic and offers to fix the car – of course for a certain fee. For all you know, it may be he who tampered with your car in the first place so he could offer to fix it and charge you later.
GOING ON SINCE: Two-three years
AREA OF OPERATION: Parking lots near commercial establishments
TOP TIP: It’s too much of a coincidence that a ‘mechanic’ happens to be around when your car breaks down. Contact a mechanic or seek the help of
someone you can trust.
5) ON A WING AND A PRAYER
You’re about to step into your car when a man approaches you and offers his greetings. As you jog your memory trying to remember if you’ve met the smiling stranger before, he engages you in conversation by telling you ‘astoundingly accurate’ things about your past life. It’s things you want to hear: “You’re self-made” and how “you defied odds to be what you are.”
Sprinkled in the conversation will be generic information and references to common things like “your recurring headaches/stomach cramps” or the “scheming colleague at work.” Towards the end of the reading, the man will tell you he’s a psychic fakir who has noticed a dark energy around you. He can rid you of it if you cough up some money to feed the pigeons at the pilgrimage centre where he’s going later this year.
GOING ON SINCE: Early 2010 with some variations.
AREA OF OPERATION: Rolla, Al Yarmouk in Sharjah
TOP TIP: Since the con artist doesn’t ask for money up front, you don’t mind entertaining him. That’s your first step to being duped. It’s hard to refuse them money when you are with your wife who is concerned for you having heard the man’s prophecy. The best way out is not to entertain him at all.
No. 1 - I have been conned by a man who entered our office premises in Sharjah - (15 years back). I along with many of my colleagues gave him money. Infact there were group of women knocking at my door for money (Sharjah). Once I gave them Dhs.20/ and they grabbed my arm asking for more. A young boy accompanying them who seemed to be hiding in the staircase (fire exit) immediately put his leg between the door. I was struggling to escape these ladies but they would'nt let go until I gave them some more. Ever since I am wary of opening my doors to strangers. There were too many cases of chinese women blackmailing men during summer vacation (when most families were gone). They would come under the pretext of selling CDs . It was in Gulf News some years back.
case no.1 and case no.3 happened to me..
case no. twice the same day at Jarir Bookstore parking, the guy was so annoying and he left me when i told him im calling the cops right now.case no.3
was at bank street..and this is very very regular..you will find them towards the month end .. smart guys know when the salaries are being transfered.
if i see these guys again.....the only 2 thigs thyll be begging for would e mercy and to spare their lives
guy sellig perfumes outside giant tores and new world center.....By Allah i regret givnig them money!
I've had a No. 3 in city center in previous years. QL should run a competition to see who can tick off all 5 above before we hit Eid.
I've met a guy here who want to sell perfumes with any amount u can buy, even if you tell him u dont use perfume or shoo him away, he then asks for money or any help you can do. he is here on a visit visa and ofcourse no money to spare. i met this guy two years bakc and believe me when i saw him last week he told me the same story and i told him, get lost--- i've seen you in the same style 2 years here in doha. he had no choice than to walk away in a hurry. A bengali national near thr Airport, FFC, Planet Fashion area
i have met this NO. 3 incident and he told me same story he is frm oman no money to buy food and a lady n kids with him in car
Think the best idea is you pretend to be symptheatic and say let me call to police so they can help you ASAP!
Yes good... for me i have meet this NO. 3 and he told me same story his car gear broke ..
Last month there was a indian guy driving with a four wheel drive pajero near jarir bookstore salwa road and he's asking me for a 50QR since he have not eaten for 3 days. He told me they were from oman having a roadtrip with his family.Lol a funny guy he have no money but driving with a pajero car. I just smiled at him and waved goodbye.
The 3rd one is already here... saw them many times around..
No 3 happened to me in Hyatt plaza parkin slot, LC with UAE car plate, he had his wife to his right and a kid on her hand, I told him to call his friends in UAE to wire him money through WU.
some guys might b getting IDEAS :) here too
u can add duplicate mobile phone sales (UAE) to the list