Suspicious WhatsApp messages telling residents in UAE that they have won a prize money are now so common that people can make out such fraudulent messages. Therefore, scamsters are upping their game by sending voice message notes instead if text messages.
People have reported receiving such voice messages informing recipients that they have won 200,000 AED sponsored by a retailer in the UAE. What’s more? To give the message an authentic feel, scamsters have included a promotional picture flashing logos of Expo 2020 and various reputed banks in the region!
Miscreants sending these messages have smartly recorded a robotic voice to avoid any chance of their voice being detected. Khaleej Times reported that in some cases, opening the voice messages freezes users phones, however, this yet to be verified.
Certify your team in cybersecurity before your company is hit by a cyberattack
While the motive behind these voice messages is not clear, the retailer issued a statement recently refuting its involvement in these messages.
Earlier, the name of Lulu Hypermarket was used to in another series of scam messages intended to swindle money from gullible UAE residents. The company has circulated an advisory asking the public not to fall prey to the fake messages.
Part of their statement said: “Lulu Group hereby declares that it never contacts and has not authorized anyone to contact its customers or common public for their banking, credit card or any similar details”.