Saturday 20 / April / 2024
Muscat: Criminals are flagging down motorists for help or to ask for directions, before trying to con them.
Oman’s consumer watchdog wants to hear from anyone approached by roving rogue traders who stop vehicles in the street under some pretence then try to sell drivers fake luxury goods.
Reports have been received of the scam being tried in Muscat, and the con is rife across the GCC.
One criminal, who drives a four-wheel vehicle with UAE licence plates, actually flashes motorists until they pull over then pulls in behind them before asking for help, claiming to be lost and trying to find the airport.
When the unsuspecting ‘Good Samaritan’ driver offers to help, the con artist, who claims he is Italian on a business trip to Oman and works for Armani, offers to give luxury suits by way of thanks, at a huge discount.
In reality, the goods are cheap and worthless and the Armani branding is fake.
Eyewitnesses have told Times of Oman that they were approached by a man with an Italian accent, claiming to offer authentic Armani goods for cheap prices after flagging them down on main highways, interior roads and shopping mall car parks around Muscat.
One Al-Khuwair based resident said: “I was driving out of a supermarket when I saw in my rear view mirror a white car flash its lights at me repeatedly and a small man waving at me to pull over.
“ I did, as I thought there must be some issue with my car. I pulled over, and the driver of the other car approached my vehicle, claiming he wanted directions to the airport and was lost. After I told him I could show him the way if he followed my car, he gave me an Armani branded business card and said he would repay me with samples.
“He told me to open my boot and went to the back of his car and offered me ‘samples’, carrying Armani branded suit bags. I told him I was not interested, as I’ve seen this type of scam before. My children were in the car and I stopped because I thought this guy had spotted a problem with my vehicle. I drove off and he disappeared at the next available turning.”
“There are so many types of commercial fraud and the Public Authority for Consumer Protection are also strictly dealing with such cases,” said an official at PACP. “Consumers should not buy from unlicensed vendors and they have to go to the authentic stores to buy products.”
A senior manager for Armani also reiterated the same, saying, “if you want to buy original goods, please only go to the boutiques or the official stores, do not go anywhere else. I think people know already that if someone approaches them on the street, selling goods that they say are original, then you obviously know it is fake, so I think that is obvious. There are unfortunately many fake brands being sold, not just for Armani but others as well. There is after all no way you can get a high-end designer bag for just OMR25, for example.
“So whenever you want to buy a good branded product, please don’t go to these street vendors but come to the authorised showroom,” he added. “No fake business will have a showroom after all.”
Consumer Protection Law
The Royal Oman Police confirm they also take action whenever complaints are received.
Yasin Chowdhury, a legal consultant at Al Faqih & Co, said: “Such practices are likely in violation of Article 3 of the Consumer Protection Law, which says ‘it shall be prohibited to trade in any commodity or provide any services without meeting all the special health and safety conditions and obtaining the licenses or permits from the competent body in the manner stipulated by the regulations.’
He added: “It shall be prohibited to trade in any adulterated, corrupt, counterfeit commodities or any commodities that are not authorized for trading and the same may not be advertised and the regulations shall determine what commodities shall be deemed as adulterated, corrupt or counterfeit’ according to Article 7.”
Those caught can expect fines of up to OMR50,000 and prison sentences of up to three years, or both, the expert added.
A senior lawyer from a leading law firm in Oman said PACP regulations were in place to ensure customers were properly protected.
“The regulations are an important step towards enhancing consumer protection, deterring suppliers from dishonest enrichment and holding them accountable, if necessary,” he explained.
The Armani scam has been rife in Western Europe for decades but now appears to be creeping into new countries and regions, especially those where people are more likely to help a stranger in need.
