Fraudulent phone calls and text messages have become common in the UAE. David Paul Morris / Bloomberg
Fraudulent phone calls and text messages have become common in the UAE. David Paul Morris / Bloomberg
Fraudulent phone calls and text messages have become common in the UAE. David Paul Morris / Bloomberg
Fraudulent phone calls and text messages have become common in the UAE. David Paul Morris / Bloomberg

Indian consulate in Dubai warns fraudsters are using its name for an immigration scam


  • English
  • Arabic

The Indian Consulate in Dubai has said its name is being used in fraudulent phone calls to extort money from residents.

Officials would never make such calls, the consulate said in a statement on Tuesday.

It said “unidentified people are making calls to the general public residing in Dubai and the northern emirates from the numbers 04 397 1222 and 04 397 1333, falsely telling people they are calling from the Indian consulate and asking the persons to deposit money in different accounts claiming they had infringed some immigration law.”

Residents who receive such calls should inform the consulate via email on hoc.dubai@mea.gov.in and cgoffice.dubai@mea.gov.in

Dubai Police has been informed about the scam.

_______________

Read more:

'Wangiri scam' hits UAE: Foreign gangs target residents with phone calls and phishing texts

Mobile phone users urged to beware of scam calls

_______________

The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.

Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins

Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative 

Read part one: how cars came to the UAE

The specs

Engine: 1.5-litre turbo

Power: 181hp

Torque: 230Nm

Transmission: 6-speed automatic

Starting price: Dh79,000

On sale: Now

Honeymoonish
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Elie%20El%20Samaan%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENour%20Al%20Ghandour%2C%20Mahmoud%20Boushahri%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
'Panga'

Directed by Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari

Starring Kangana Ranaut, Richa Chadha, Jassie Gill, Yagya Bhasin, Neena Gupta

Rating: 3.5/5

Europe’s rearming plan
  • Suspend strict budget rules to allow member countries to step up defence spending
  • Create new "instrument" providing €150 billion of loans to member countries for defence investment
  • Use the existing EU budget to direct more funds towards defence-related investment
  • Engage the bloc's European Investment Bank to drop limits on lending to defence firms
  • Create a savings and investments union to help companies access capital
Washmen Profile

Date Started: May 2015

Founders: Rami Shaar and Jad Halaoui

Based: Dubai, UAE

Sector: Laundry

Employees: 170

Funding: about $8m

Funders: Addventure, B&Y Partners, Clara Ventures, Cedar Mundi Partners, Henkel Ventures