Ordering food online is something that almost requires a second thought. ‘Almost’ is the key word here. If you don’t take the necessary precautions and vigilance, you could end up being duped out of a lot of money as phishing scams have been on the rise recently. That’s what happened to an expat in Dubai, whose 29 AED bill was turned into 9,872 AED by a phishing scam.
Expats in the UAE scammed out of money while ordering food
Image credit: Canva Images (for representation purposes only)
A UAE expat was ordering food online when she saw an advertisement for a discounted menu at a popular fried chicken restaurant. As reported by Khaleej Times, when she ordered online, she was charged AED29, which she intended to treat the staff. However, when she submitted the OTP, she was charged AED2,020. When she called her bank, she was shocked to discover that multiple transactions totaling AED9,872.69 had been made. She contacted her bank to ask them to pause the transactions, but they couldn’t. The transactions had gone through! As a result, the single mother was forced to spend a significant amount on a simple meal.
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How to protect yourself from phishing scams?
Image credit: Canva
This is just one of many incidents that have come to light among several reported phishing scams. The fraudulent sites pose a huge risk to people as they imitate legitimate food delivery platforms and easily trick users into disclosing their credit card details. Hence, with the number of scams on the rise, it is important to follow the tips to protect yourself from them.
Be wary of unsolicited offers that seem too good to be true. Also, be wary of unfamiliar and suspicious email addresses, social media accounts, and websites. Always refer to the official website or authorized channels of a reputed eatery to ensure that the website is legitimate. Do not share personal information, bank account details, or other sensitive data, otherwise you risk being scammed out of your hard-earned money. Once you receive your one-time password, verify the purchase amount and merchant name before entering your details.
So, although these scams are on the rise, it is very easy to avoid them if you take the necessary precautions and remain vigilant.
Cover image courtesy of Canva (Image is representative)
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