DUBAI — The operator of a hypermarket chain in the United Arab Emirates has issued a scam alert to warn customers against con artists engaged in a scheme to extract money from unsuspecting shoppers.

In an advertisement published in local newspapers, officials of Lulu Hypermarket said they learned about some people claiming to be representatives of the retail chain who are calling consumers to tell them they won one prize or another and asking for their credit card and bank account details supposedly for purposes of claiming the prize.

The company said last month it had issued a similar warning in its Twitter account warning customers against sharing any personal information for a supposed promotional campaign. WAM