KUWAIT CITY, May 20: The Ministry of Interior has issued a public warning, alerting citizens and expats to online fraud gangs posing as vendors of fish, meat, and poultry. The Ministry urged the public to avoid interacting with unverified websites or social media accounts promoting such offers, emphasizing that these are scams designed to steal personal banking information and empty victims’ accounts.

According to previous reports published by Arab Times, these fraudulent websites and apps lure users with unrealistically low prices for food and consumer goods. Victims are often deceived into entering their full banking details, which criminal networks then exploit. A security source revealed that numerous cases have already been reported by both citizens and expatriates who fell prey to these deceptive promotions.

The scammers typically require purchases to be made through a suspicious application. If a buyer requests to pay in cash, they are told first to make a small advance payment (usually around half a dinar) via a payment link or app, which then compromises their financial data.

The Cybercrime Department previously announced the suspension of 662 WhatsApp accounts registered with Kuwaiti numbers linked to fraudulent activity. The department has also released guidance on how to differentiate between legitimate and fake website links, emphasizing the importance of domain name scrutiny.

Authorities continue to actively monitor and block fraudulent websites and applications, taking legal action against offenders. The Security Media Department reiterated the importance of using only trusted and verified platforms, urging the public to confirm a site’s credibility before making purchases or using the "My Identity" app for authentication.

The public was also warned to avoid clicking on suspicious links from search engines or social media ads, with specific caution against sites built using "Wix site," which are often untrustworthy. The Ministry stressed the need for vigilance to prevent financial loss and identity theft, particularly in checking domain names.