AN alert has been sounded against relentless efforts by conmen to dupe people in Bahrain.
In the past few weeks, fraudsters have reportedly stepped up their criminal activities by sending out text messages promoting bogus trading and investment opportunities under the name of Bahrain Post.
The swindlers are also asking their victims to disclose their personal information and bank details to claim gifts sent to them by post.
The General Directorate of Anti-Corruption and Economic and Electronic Security yesterday warned people in Bahrain to ignore fake advertisements urging them to invest in trading companies.
“People in Bahrain are warned against misleading advertisements used by fraudsters to lure investors online,” the directorate said in a statement.
“One such advertisement spotted by the directorate is about a fake trading and investment company requesting users to click on an electronic link and fill out their personal information.”
In addition, investors have also been urged not to make any payments to rogue businesses, and only deal with institutions that are licensed by the Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB).
“The public should exercise a high level of caution when dealing with online trading activities or foreign currencies by ensuring the company has obtained necessary licences from the CBB.”
For more information visit www.cbb.gov.bh/licensing-directory.
Meanwhile, the Bahrain Post has also warned against conmen impersonating it and targeting consumers by claiming they had won prizes.
“Fraudulent SMS messages have recently been spreading under Bahrain Post’s name requesting the disclosure of personal and bank details to authorise the receipt of postal shipments or to claim prizes via links,” it said in a statement.
It added that the victims were even sent emails as part of the scam.
The postal body stressed it does not ask consumers to disclose their personal or bank details, adding it only contacts consumers via official communication channels upon the arrival of any postal packages.
Earlier this month, two Pakistani men were found guilty of fraud by the High Criminal Court and sentenced to seven years in jail for their involvement in a money-making scam.
The duo impersonated staff from BenefitPay and asked the victim to “update bank details to be able to use the app. The victim clicked a suspicious link filled out his details, and was asked by the men to share the OTP, a one-time PIN or password.
Another online scam reported in February used the picture of the leadership to entice victims and claim 25,000 people had won a “grand cash prize” of BD10,000.
The GDN previously reported about Covid-19 scams of fraudulent websites selling masks and found files of different formats camouflaged as documents connected with the scams.
Banks in Bahrain and telecom companies also frequently issue alerts to customers to beware of the scams stating that official representatives never request personal banking details.
The Interior Ministry’s Anti-Corruption and Economic and Electronic Security director general Brigadier Bassam Al Miraj said the directorate dealt with 600 scam cases and referred 400 of these to the Public Prosecution from November until February 7.
To report such crimes, contact the ministry’s 24-hour hotline 992.
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