Oman’s telecoms regulator will launch an awareness campaign this year to target phone scammers, as some of the Sultanate’s biggest companies warn residents not to fall prey to con merchants trying to steal their cash.
Scammers claiming to represent telecom companies and banks are cold-calling residents telling them they have won a cash prize of up to OMR20,000. They then persuade gullible victims to part with sensitive information like account numbers, passwords, resident card details and pin numbers.
Instead of receiving a cash windfall, victims have their bank savings stolen after criminals hijack their accounts and change pins and passwords.
The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) in Omans said that it is planning an awareness campaign, involving other stakeholders such as Public Prosecution, which will focus on over-the-phone exploitation.
The campaign will be in full operation later this year, a spokesman said.
Source: http://timesofoman.com/article/103543/Oman/Number's-up-for-phone-scammers-in-Oman