Background
Some of Qtel's customers are getting calls from fraudsters in countries like Pakistan telling them that they have won rewards from Qtel (ranging from Qr. 10,000 to 100,000) and asking them to purchase 500 riyals worth prepaid scratch cards and give them the PIN numbers of the same, after which the lottery amount will be transferred to their bank account.

Once the victim is convinced and they provide the fraudsters with prepaid scratch cards PINs, these fraudsters sell the PIN numbers to their contacts in Qatar who immediately consume the credit or re-sell it to others.

What to do?
Qtel wishes to make its customers aware of this and take the necessary following steps to avoid being cheated:

1. Never entertain such calls from persons whom you don't know, telling you that you have won something. If you have not participated in any draw, don't expect to win anything.
2. The fraudsters may call claiming that they are Qtel's representatives and ask you for your personal details. Please remember that Qtel would have already had your personal details and would not ask the same from you. If it needs verification it would have been done through a face-to-face meeting.
3. Qtel will never ask for bank details, prepaid scratch cards PINs or personal information as part of a promotion, moreover through a phone conversation.
4. If the call is coming from Qtel, it should have originated from Qatar. Do not believe stories that the Calling Number displayed is of another country because the call is made over the internet. Qtel does not engage in such activity.
5. Qtel has noted a spike in the number of illegitimate operators looking to harvest the mobile phone numbers of its customers. Be careful to give your number only to persons you know and trust.
6. In case you have been cheated, as this is not specifically a Telecom Fraud, Qtel regrets but we cannot help you in any way, however please contact the police and register a complaint.