‘I was victim of fraudulent use of residential visa in Riyad’
The Hindu
M.K. Chandrashekar, 32, a native of Kadaba taluk of Dakshina Kannada, said he had to undergo seven months of imprisonment in Riyad for not informing authorities about the misuse of his residential permit (Iqama
M.K. Chandrashekar, 32, a native of Kadaba taluk of Dakshina Kannada, said he had to undergo seven months of imprisonment in Riyad for not informing authorities about the misuse of his residential permit (Iqama).
Talking to reporters in Mangaluru on Thursday following his return after being cleared in the case, Mr. Chandrashekar, who worked as a machine operator in a company in Riyad, said he got a call from a local police station on November 27, 2022, and was asked to come with regard to transactions in his bank account.
He went to the police station and told them about his account in Alinma Bank. The account in which fraudulent transactions were carried out was not his account.
Mr. Chandrashekar then went to Alinma Bank. “There, I found another account had been opened in my name using my Iqama details and with a different mobile number. Fraudsters based in a foreign country had opened the account and used it to defraud a Saudi resident of 22,500 riyal.”
In 2022, Mr. Chandrashekar said he received an SMS on his mobile phone that resembled the one of his bank. “I had clicked on that link and then closed it. This action has led to fraudsters gaining access to Iqama and other details stored in my mobile phone, which was used to open another account.”
On a complaint by the Saudi resident, Mr. Chandrashekar was arrested. The local court found Mr. Chandrashekar guilty of not disclosing the misuse of Iqama and was sentenced to seven months imprisonment and imposed a fine. “I served the sentence and also paid the fine,” Mr. Chandrashekar said.
After release from the prison, Mr. Chandrashekar said he was in custody of the local police.
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