Coronavirus-related crimes were detected ... and goods worth 2.6 billion dirhams were seized
Dubai Police records 250 economic cases in the 'year of the pandemic'
One of the fraud gangs that was caught during the past year.
From the source
Brigadier General Jamal Al-Jallaf: "The circumstances of the Corona pandemic have resulted in criminal behaviors such as promoting counterfeit medical products."
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The Department of Combating Economic Crimes in Dubai Police registered more than 250 cases during the past year, during which it seized 320 accused, and seizures whose market value exceeded 2.6 billion dirhams.
The Director of the General Department of Criminal Investigations and Investigations, Brigadier General Jamal Al-Jallaf, confirmed to "Emirates Today", that "the criminal work of the administration did not stop during the Corona pandemic and the exceptional circumstances that required it, but rather focused on thwarting new types of crimes linked to the pandemic."
Al-Jalaf said, “The circumstances of the pandemic have produced some criminal behaviors, such as the promotion of counterfeit medical products by gangs that exploited people's fear and the high prices of masks and masks at the beginning of the pandemic, pointing out that more than 400,000 masks, 1,000 glasses, 25,000 gloves were seized, in addition to clothes And medical packages of unknown source, wrapped with stickers, hiding the country of origin.
He added that those involved in these crimes were marketing them over the phone, in light of the banning procedures related to the national sterilization program, but the work teams were able to track them down and seize large quantities stored in a number of villas in the Emirate of Dubai, where they were repackaged and marketed electronically.
He pointed out that the Economic Crime Control Department carried out a lightning operation despite the exceptional circumstances of the pandemic last year, which resulted in the seizure of about 30 thousand global hours, the market value of which exceeded one billion and 240 million dirhams, which one of the gangs professionally concealed in two apartments.
He stressed that the seizure of this huge amount of fake luxury watches is a message that the Dubai Police, along with its partners from the Economic Department, will strike with an iron hand on everyone who is tempted to trade counterfeit products, and the emirate will remain a safe investment oasis for entrepreneurs and the economy, pointing out that Infringement of intellectual property causes huge losses to trademark owners and large companies, who spend billions on their industry and trade.
For his part, the Director of the Economic Crime Control Department at Dubai Police, Colonel Omar bin Hammad, said, “During the past year, the department has seized about seven gangs that have professionally stolen cars through fraud, by hunting victims from one of the electronic marketing sites who offer their vehicles for sale, and expressing their interest in buying them, then Executing purchases on Thursday evening after the banks were closed, in exchange for checks accepted by the buyer, and later discovered that he had been fraudulent, and that they were without balance, or written on closed accounts.
He added that the administration's work teams were able to retrieve a stolen car from a European person, who was defrauded in this way, and as soon as he informed the police, a work team was formed, and it was discovered that the car was resold and hidden in an unknown location, so the accused were pursued, and their steps were followed, until it became clear that they had forged and transferred its papers Therefore, coordination was made with the Customs Intelligence Department at Dubai Customs, knowing its destination, and making sure that it was on board a ship bound for a European country, so an urgent plan was prepared and returned on board the same ship.
He pointed out that one of the seized gangs is run by two people residing in another country, and they are planning for its members inside, including a woman who has mastered fraud and was able to steal a car worth 300,000 dirhams, after she gave its owner an advance of 20 thousand dirhams, and tempted him to register it, so he accepted, excluding That woman is a fraud.
Bin Hammad emphasized that controlling these gangs, along with the intense awareness of this criminal method, contributed to reducing these reports, warning members of the community against being led by any temptations, registering their cars in the names of strangers, before paying their price, and ensuring the safety of the buyer's intentions.
He pointed out that the administration is not satisfied with precisely deterrence and awareness, but it is currently working on conducting a study that fills any loophole that these fraudsters can implement, in cooperation with the competent authorities, but there remains a responsibility on the vehicle owners, which is to deal cautiously with anyone offering to buy a car with this Way.
Bin Hammad said, "One of the fraudulent methods that have been an obsession in the recent period is phone banking fraud. Therefore, Dubai Police organized a campaign with its partners to educate community members against responding to any strangers who communicate with them by phone, entice them with prizes, or ask them to update their bank data."
He added that people have fallen into the trap of these fraudsters, and unlike the previous method, which relied on luring prizes, when the victim was transferring money himself, the new method leads to penetration of bank accounts, which increases the volume of losses.
He stressed that there is no party, whether the central bank, banks or the police, that requests any confidential bank data from the customer, so it should not be disclosed to anyone, whatever the circumstances, indicating that these gangs are extremely combustible, and their members can manipulate the minds and psyche of the victims. Therefore, Dubai Police, in cooperation with banks, is carrying out an intensive awareness campaign.
"Dubai Police" is among the top 5 international agencies
The Trademarks Council of the Gulf States confirmed in an official letter that Dubai Police is one of the five best global police agencies in protecting intellectual property, in terms of procedures followed, the competence of officers, local and international cooperation, and awareness.
The Council indicated that Dubai Police has succeeded in facilitating and developing procedures in cases of intellectual property infringement, in terms of registering complaints, speeding up verification of them, and arresting those involved in these crimes.
320
Accused of being caught by the Economic Crime Prevention Department during 2020
Returning a vehicle stolen from the open sea ... and fraudulent seizure of a car with 300 thousand dirhams.
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