“The cardboard box was completely blank and contained a small piece of rock, instead of the gold watch that he bought in an online auction and paid for with a credit card.”.
ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates–(Blank NEWS Online) By Albert OGRAKA– 
Abu Dhabi Police authority in the United Arab Emirates has revealed that a shopper was recently conned into paying AED 14,700 for what he thought was a famous gold watch brand he managed to purchase after winning the bid on an online auction site.
Instead of finding his coveted watch, the victim was surprised to receive a crummy cardboard package containing a small piece of rock.
In an effort to create awareness on the prevalence of cyber frauds, Lieutenant Colonel Taher Al Dhaheri, Head of the Organized Crime Combating Section at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) at Abu Dhabi Police, warned against buying or taking part in unsafe online auctions. He pointed out that that the e-mail (ecrime@adpolice.gov.ae) has been provided to communicate on e-crimes.
“The incident occurred a while back, but it was publicized specifically due to the growing number of unsafe online purchasing. The ADP has repeatedly warned against the risks of online shopping to prevent people from falling prey to cyber frauds, and to enhance community education. This falls in line with the Abu Dhabi Police’s strategy aimed at enhancing the public’s trust in the police institution.”
Lieutenant Colonel Al Dhaheri disclosed that the shopper is a manager at an insurance company and had filed a complaint to the Organized Crime Section about receiving a fake package. The cardboard box was completely blank and contained a small piece of rock, instead of the gold watch that he bought in an online auction and paid for with a credit card.
Lieutenant Colonel Al Dhaheri called upon shoppers to ensure the websites are secure before making any purchases, such as making a note of the address, telephone number, fax number and any other contact details of the company that they are buying from; not relying only on an email address; and buying from well-known sites.
He said: “It is preferable to use a special credit card allocated specifically for online shopping with a limited balance, and to keep an electronic and hard copy of the purchase receipt.” He also highlighted the need to quickly report any case of online fraud.
In conclusion, Lieutenant Colonel Al Dhaheri stressed the ADP’s keenness to raise the society’s awareness, in line with the development efforts carried out to improve the policing services provided, and to further spread a sense of security and tranquility by providing preventive solutions. “This embodies the efforts to ensure a safe social environment, provide stability, maintain the safety of society and protect their savings,” he said.
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