Dubai: Ahead of Ramadan, Abu Dhabi Police are warning residents not fall for the begging scam.
Police said that during Ramadan, conmen pose as beggars to dupe unsuspecting residents for money. The police reminded residents that donations should be made only through the appropriate channels.
Any beggar should be reported immediately to Abu Dhabi Police at 999.
In a statement, Major General Omair Al Muhairi, Director-General of Police Operations at Abu Dhabi Police, announced that a month-long campaign will be launched to make residents aware of the dangers of dealing with beggars and why they should stop encouraging this type of negative behaviour.
“The police are exerting significant efforts to combat this social affliction through crackdown campaigns and awareness initiatives designed to eradicate this kind of anti-social behaviour,” he said.
The campaign will be spread across Abu Dhabi Police’s social networking sites. The police will carry out lectures throughout the community to make residents aware of conmen who take advantage of their good will.
Begging as a profession
Last year, a beggar in Dubai made international headlines after police caught him with thousands of dirhams in his possession.
In 2016, Gulf News reported that Dubai Municipality inspectors arrested a beggar who was making as much as Dh270,000 per month.
Local authorities have been carrying out year-long campaigns to combat begging along Dubai’s streets, and intensifying a crackdown during and in the run up to Ramadan.
According to Dubai Police, patrols will monitor public places, shopping centres, mosques and residential areas as part of the ongoing anti-begging campaign.
First Lieutenant Mohammad Al Hamadi, head of criminal investigation Department in General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs in Dubai, also warned tourists companies to be careful when they issue visas for individuals since many beggars come to the UAE on visit visa.
