Fraudsters use Bahrain expat’s CPR card to buy phone

Manama: An Indian expatriate is preparing for legal battle with a telecom company after his stolen CPR card was used to obtain a SIM card and a high-end smartphone.

Suni Raman had to cut short his holidays as he started receiving threats from a telecom company. The company was threatening him with legal case and a travel ban if he did not pay BD270, an amount, which is the cost of the smartphone purchased in his name. According to the records of the company, Raman purchased a high-end smartphone along with a SIM card in 2015.

However, Raman said he had never purchased the smartphone or the SIM card from the company. According to him, his CPR card and driving licence were stolen in 2014.

“I own a small business in Manama and at the end of 2014 I sold it. The last time I used that CPR card was during the process of selling the business. I lost it soon after,” he clarified.

“Before leaving for India a month ago, I had left my SIM card with my friend so that he could answer the calls. Two days ago, I got a call from him saying that a telecom company had demanded payment of the amount. They told him that they would block my entry to Bahrain, if I do not return in one day. So I had booked a ticket immediately and came back to Bahrain. I visited their office and demanded an explanation. They claim that they have all the required documents, including copy of my passport, CPR and my signature. I told them to provide me with all the documents, but they are yet to provide them. If they keep on insisting that I pay the amount, I will seek legal options,” Raman added.