Lulu Group warns customers against fraudsters

Doha: Prominent retailer Lulu Hypermarkets has issued a statement warning customers against fraudsters using the group’s name to obtain personal and financial information.

People were getting messages saying they have won huge amount in cash at Lulu Hypermarket and are asked to contact some particular numbers. One of the messages seen by us asked the receiver to contact a given number using IMO app.

“We have come to know that some incidents of attempted frauds in the name of Lulu Hypermarket. Where the callers have identified themselves as calling on behalf of Lulu and tried to obtain certain personal and financial information of the persons, including their bank accounts & bank card details with the intent of defrauding them with false news of winning a prize or with some offers at Lulu,” the statement from Lulu said.

Some customers were getting phone calls saying they have won some prize and then they start asking banking and personal details.

A Whatsapp message received by a customer

“Lulu Group hereby declares that it never contacts and has not authorised anyone to contact its customers or common public for their banking, credit card or any similar details. The public at large is advised to exercise extreme caution while dealing with anyone asking for their bank card or other personal details and report the matter to the concerned authorities,” the statement added.

There were also fake messages and calls in the name of Ooredoo. We had received some such calls on some messaging apps and they even show Ooredoo in the caller ID. The most important thing to remember is never to share your bank or card details with anyone over the phone or instant messaging. Banks always warn their account holders not to share their login and password with anyone over phone or messges even if they claim they are from the bank.

Lulu Group has already lodged an official complaint with the concerned police authorrities against such fraudsters.

A few weeks earlier Lulu had put out a similar message on their social media platforms saying “Dear customers, please be careful with WhatsApp and phone calls from random mobile numbers claiming you have won a big cash prize from LuLu, as it is not associated with us. We, at LuLu, do not ask bank details from our customers for our promotions. Please report spam immediately on WhatsApp. We also encourage you to report such suspicious messages to relevant authorities.”