KUWAIT CITY, Jan 25: What began as a routine attempt to pay a simple 15-dinar traffic fine turned into a nightmare for one unsuspecting Kuwaiti citizen, who found herself targeted by online fraudsters lurking behind a counterfeit government website.

The woman reported to police that she had accessed what appeared to be an official Ministry of Interior platform, supposedly meant for paying traffic fines. Trusting the site’s authentic design and official emblems, she entered her details and completed the transaction — only to later discover that over 290 dinars had been siphoned from her account in two unauthorized deductions. Shocked and alarmed, she rushed to an Al-Ahmadi police station to file a formal complaint.

Investigators now suspect forgery and electronic bank fraud, launching a wide-reaching probe to trace the fraudulent website’s creators and determine the method used to execute the theft. Legal action awaits those found responsible for this deceit.

A security source has since urged the public to use only official apps and platforms, particularly the “Sahel” application, for paying fines and conducting government transactions. The source warned that impostors are increasingly creating fake websites that imitate legitimate services — from bill payments to online shopping — preying on citizens’ trust and urgency.

Authorities have once again cautioned internet users to verify website authenticity before sharing any banking information, emphasizing that a single careless click could open the door to digital thieves waiting behind a convincing disguise.