Bahraini Woman falls victim to phone scam

TDT | Manama                                                      

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

A Bahraini woman lost BD1,383 from two bank accounts after falling victim to a sophisticated phone scam perpetrated by an Asian national.

The 50-year-old woman was duped into believing she had won a BD20,000 prize by a fraudster posing as a bank employee.

The culprit, who is part of a larger criminal network, contacted the victim via phone call.

He gained her trust by providing seemingly legitimate details, including her bank account number and ID, while fabricating a story about an outstanding loan.

This elaborate ruse convinced the victim of the caller’s authenticity.

Further manipulating the victim, the fraudster sent her fake One-Time Password (OTP) verification codes via text message, claiming they were from the bank.

Unaware of the scam, she innocently shared the codes, allowing the perpetrator to syphon funds from two of her accounts.

Upon discovering the unauthorised withdrawals, the victim promptly reported the incident to the authorities.

Investigations revealed the involvement of a criminal network specialising in targeting unsuspecting individuals.

The apprehended suspect confessed to his role in the scheme during questioning.

He admitted to setting up multiple bank accounts to facilitate the transfer of stolen funds, acting on instructions from high-ranking members within the network.

This case underscores the importance of remaining vigilant against phone scams.

Residents are advised to never share personal or banking information over the phone and to verify any claims of prizes or outstanding loans directly with their bank.