Alarmed by reports of people getting robbed on roads, some exchange houses have advised customers to be extra cautious while visiting their offices, particularly on weekends.
This is because a number of exchange houses are located in busy areas, frequented by a large number of people, and the crowds swell during weekends.
It is easier for fraudsters to operate in large crowds, as witnessed on weekends, as they can escape relatively easily without being noticed, say sources.
The rush for remitting money usually increases at the beginning of a month, when people receive their salaries, as well as on weekends and special occasions.
A fortnight ago, Gulf Times reported two cases of snatching and pick-pocketing in the vicinity of exchange houses in the Al Ghanim area. Besides, the staff at an exchange house in Najma also reported an incident that apparently took place in the immediate neighbourhood on a recent weekend evening.
One of the victims, who shared his experience with this newspaper, said he lost QR22,500 while returning from an exchange house where he had gone to remit some money to an account in a Dubai bank. He kept the remaining amount (QR22,500) in one of the lower front pockets of his trousers.
A man spat on him on the road and offered to wipe off the spittle, all the while apologising for the act. The victim, a businessman, realised that he had been robbed after a while when he searched his pocket for the money.
Another victim, who lost QR3,500, had a similar experience. A trickster apparently threw something in his face that left his eyes moist in no time. He also recollected that he noticed spit on the lower half of his trousers.
He said the fraudster bowed down and started wiping off the saliva with a piece of cloth. He realised after sometime that the front pocket of his trousers was torn and he lost the entire money he was carrying. The incident reportedly took place near the Sword signal.
In Najma, the victim, who was going to an exchange for a transaction, apparently lost about QR3,000 in similar circumstances. The suspect disappeared by running towards the Souq Al Haraj area, it is learnt.