Tricky fraudsters continue to rob unsuspecting bank customers in broad day light in Sharjah. Recently about Dh80,000 was robbed from vehicles of two people.
The modus operandi is to first convince potential victims of a fault in their vehicles. When they step out to check their cars, the suspects make away with their loot. Victims believe it is a gang in operation.
An Indian lost Dh20,000 from his car. He had withdrawn the amount from the Bank of Baroda Sharjah branch on the Al Mina Road, Rolla, Sharjah, according to an eye-witness. “He kept the bag of cash in his car and was ready to go, when an Asian national wearing a long kurta approached him to inform that his car’s petrol tank was leaking,” the eye-witness recalled and added that the victim stepped out to check his vehicle and did find some fluid spilled underneath his car.
“On close examination, the victim found it was not petrol. By the time he realised he was duped his bag of cash was missing. He did give a chase and shouted for help, but was not successful in nabbing the thief. The suspect disappeared into the bird market,” the source said.
He immediately filed a complaint and a police team rushed to the site. Evidence has been collected and investigations are on.
In another similar case, again in Sharjah, an Indian bank client allegedly lost Dh65,000 that he claims he had kept in his car to be deposited in a bank.
He claims that he had to deposit Dh78,000 in two banks. He had secured the amount in two packs and deposited Dh13,000 in the Ras Al Khaimah Bank. The other packet comprising Dh65,000 was left in his vehicle to be deposited the next day morning. But that amount allegedly has gone missing from his Prado vehicle.
“The money was part of the daily collection and advance payment from some customers for spare parts,” said Mohammed H, the victim. “I was going to deposit the money next day in HDFC Bank. This happened on April 30, he added.
“I went to the Sharjah Post Office, too, for some work and the money was lost from King Faisal road,” Mohammed said.
He has also filed a police complaint.
Police have always reminded people not to leave cash in vehicles and to exercise caution when withdrawing cash from banks and ATMs. Banks, financial institutions and ATM centres have also displayed warning signs to alert customers.
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