The UAE Tech Wiki
Introduction:
It is well known that scams are a big issue in the UAE, but there are many questions that come to the human mind about this topic like how scamming works and how it impacts human life as technology makes scamming more sophisticated using AI. Today, we will be deep-diving into scams, how they impact human life and what are the right steps to protect your personal information and reduce the risk of becoming a victim.
How Does Scamming Work?
An example of scamming is calling or texting someone pretending to be a bank, a big company or even police telling you that you have an unpaid fee that you have to pay. There are many other ways to scam/fraud someone like threats or pretending that you have won a big prize and have to fill out your details to get it or even using AI voice cloning to target people and trick them into sharing sensitive, private information.
What Are the Essential Steps To Take?
To stay safe, you can use the following 3 steps after receiving a scam call/message:
1. Do not engage or respond to the scammer.
In no circumstances should you engage in a conversation when suspecting a scam call or reply with any kind of text. This will prevent more attempts. Never click on any links that may steal your information or infect your device with malware.
2. Block and report the number.
Block the number on your device to stop further contact. Many apps include such block and report buttons. Report the fraud through the app and help authorities to track and take action against such activities by reporting the scam to the UAE police authorities. Aman Service is an initiative from the UAE Police Authorities to help with security. You can report scam numbers by calling the toll-free number 800-2626, sending an SMS at 2828 or emailing them at aman@adpolice.gov.ae.
3. Check your accounts.
In case there is a possibility that your personal details have been accessed take immediate action. Check your bank, email and all other important accounts for login attempts or unauthorized transactions. Even if it looks fine, it is suggested to update your passwords, using strong and unique ones for each account, and enable 2 Factor Authentication for an extra layer of security. Warn your family and friends about the scam to avoid them being targeted.
In a time when scams are evolving faster than ever, spotting potential threats is becoming more and more difficult. Fortunately, updates from cyber-security agencies can help spotting all sorts of trading scams. Limiting personal information you are sharing via social media and privacy settings, using strong, unique passwords and 2 Factor Authentication (2FA) can maximize your cyber-security.
Special thanks and appreciation to Ms. Lorna Trayan, Cyber Security Expert for the interview and all the information about Cyber Security.
