Muscat: Raising concerns about the increasing number of cyber financial frauds, the Royal Oman Police (ROP) has warned citizens and residents to avoid disclosing their secrets and personal information via suspicious sites and fake calls.
OTP
The advice urged that personal data such as the civil number, date of birth, account number, and OTP verification code should be kept confidential at all times.
To avoid falling victim to fraudulent scams, several precautious steps need to be taken: avoid responding to messages with doubtful investment offers; be wary of attractive returns in digital currency and other investments; avoid sharing details such as your password, OTP including PIN and CVV, and digital wallet information; research the investment company and the offer thoroughly; and most importantly, block and report the sender if found suspicious.
Consumer Protection Authority
Meanwhile, The Department of Criminal Investigations and Research has monitored a scam in which perpetrators use a website similar to the official website of the Consumer Protection Authority to trap victims and get their personal and banking data to withdraw from their accounts.
The Royal Oman Police stressed to everyone the need to verify the authenticity of the websites, noting that the CPA does not request bank card details when completing transactions related to its services.
Indian Embassy
The Indian Embassy in Muscat has warned that some Indian expatriates in the Sultante of Oman have been getting calls in the name of the Embassy from spoofed numbers. The caller seeks money to sort out passport/immigration matters in the Embassy.
It is reported that the calls are received from +180071234.
All Indian nationals are hereby informed that 80071234 is the 24x7 Toll-Free Helpline number of the Community Welfare Wing of the Embassy.
It is not used to make any outgoing calls.
Any calls received from the spoofed number +180071234 are fake calls from fraudsters.
It is advised that recipients of calls from spoofed numbers must cross-check directly with the Embassy on helpline numbers to avoid falling into the trap of unscrupulous elements.
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