KUWAIT CITY, Feb 1: An Arab expatriate was placed on a wanted list and arrested upon returning to Kuwait in connection with a string of fraud cases, authorities confirmed.

The case came to light after a citizen filed a complaint at Salmiya police station, reporting that he had been swindled by an Arab contractor. The complainant had agreed to purchase 20 tons of iron and cement from the accused and transferred 3,060 Kuwaiti dinars via the “WAMDA” payment service. However, after completing the transfer, he found the contractor’s phone permanently switched off. Investigations revealed that the suspect had left Kuwait the very same day the money was transferred.

Further inquiries by the Criminal Investigation Department, cross-checked with the Ministry of Interior’s database, uncovered that the accused was wanted in connection with previous fraud cases registered at Firdous and Umm Al-Hayman police stations, although no travel ban had been issued against him. His name has now been placed on the official arrest warrant list amid concerns he may attempt to flee the country again.

A security source warned residents and citizens to exercise extreme caution when making financial transactions with unverified individuals or companies, particularly for material supplies or project work without formal contracts or legal safeguards. “Always verify identities and check legal records before transferring money. Avoid advance payments unless the transaction is secure, as scammers exploit electronic payment methods and vanish,” the source advised.

Authorities said the case has been referred to the relevant prosecutorial bodies and stressed that such operations are part of an ongoing effort to curb financial crimes and protect the public from fraudulent schemes.