The Cyber Crime department of the Dubai Police solved a case in which Dh30,000 was withdrawn from the credit card of a GCC man. During the investigation, it was found that the man used his card for the last time in a hotel. All information about the card and pictures of his mobile phone were copied via a certain "server".

It turned out that the man had stored a copy of his credit card (front and back) on his mobile phone, so it became easy for the operators of the programme to access the details and carry out transactions from his card in Nigeria and other countries.

Maj. General Khalil Ibrahim Al Mansouri, assistant commander-in-chief of the Dubai Police, warned the public against downloading any "unknown programmes" or applications on mobile phones that may prove to be spy programmes. The owner of such a programme can take a copy of the images and information stored on the phone and exploit it.

Maj. Gen. Al Mansouri said that anonymous links often close and can control the mobile phone by sending a specific virus. The senders can access all the accounts through social media sites, and may use them.

Lt. Col. Salem Salemin, deputy director of the General Department of Cyber  Crimes, said that some anonymous links widely found on social media and websites can be damaging. These links attract you with offers and awards from airlines and major companies. However, these links hide a dangerous virus which steals your personal data, he said.

Lt. Col. Salemin pointed out that the department is carrying out about 3,000 electronic patrols every month to close suspicious sites that are reported to having viruses or unknown links that can be destructive.

He confirmed that recently some SMS that are being sent and there is a link which contains a dangerous programme that can penetrate into a mobile phone and get all its information, in addition to controlling the social media pages recorded on the handset.

Source: Khaleej Times