Kuwait’s New Fraud Tactic - She Never Bought a Phone, But Now Owes Thousands

11/08/2025

KUWAIT CITY, Aug 11: At the departure lounge of Kuwait International Airport, a traveler believed his journey would begin uneventfully. Her bags were packed, tickets in hand, and his domestic worker stood quietly behind him with the luggage cart. But the calm quickly dissolved into confusion when a passport officer approached them and halted their departure. The officer informed him that his domestic worker was barred from leaving the country due to an unresolved financial case.

The traveler, shocked and unaware of any such issue, soon discovered the root of the problem: his employee’s name had been used – without his knowledge – in fraudulent installment contracts for expensive smartphones and electronic devices. Speaking to the Arab Times newspaper, the traveler recounted: “While completing our departure procedures, I was suddenly stopped by the passport officer and told me my maid had a financial case against her. I had no prior knowledge of this. Later, I discovered the contracts and the amount of money registered in her name, and realized she had been taken advantage of.”

Through the newspaper, he appealed to the Ministry of Commerce and other relevant authorities to tighten oversight over installment-based sales and ensure that the identity and eligibility of buyers are thoroughly verified. He also highlighted a critical legal concern: under current regulations, sponsors may be held accountable for debts incurred by workers under their sponsorship. What seemed like a simple misunderstanding revealed a deeper, disturbing reality. The incident unraveled a sophisticated fraud scheme targeting domestic workers, orchestrated by organized criminal networks exploiting legal and financial loopholes.

According to regulatory sources, these criminal groups prey on low-income expatriate workers, particularly domestic workers and drivers with limited legal knowledge. Meanwhile, Attorney Israa Al- Haddad confirmed that the activities of such networks fall under fraud and deception as defined by the Kuwaiti Penal Code. “If it is proven that documents or signatures were manipulated, these actions could also qualify as forgery of customary documents,” she explained. Al-Haddad emphasized that sponsors have the right to pursue legal action for compensation due to both material and moral damages. She called for legislative reforms to enhance protection for domestic workers and advocated for educating the workers, warning workers against signing any documents without prior consultation with their sponsors.

Sources speaking to the Arab Times newspaper warned that this tactic is becoming increasingly common, detailing how the organized gangs operate as follows:
1. Luring workers: Targeting domestic workers and drivers who lack legal knowledge.
2. Small financial inducement: Offering small sums (KD50-KD100) in exchange for signing contracts to purchase devices on installment.
3. Photographic documentation: Filming the victim while signing to prove “seriousness of the contract” and prevent subsequent denial.
4. Immediate disposal: Selling phones and devices immediately at reduced prices, leaving the debts under the name of the victim

By Jaber Al-Hamoud
Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff

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Kuwait’s New Fraud Tactic - She Never Bought a Phone, But Now Owes Thousands

SPONSORS IN KUWAIT ALERTED TO FRAUDULENT USE OF WORKERS’ IDENTITIES