KUWAIT CITY, Aug 28: As the security services intensify their efforts against fake websites engaged in electronic fraud, Lieutenant Colonel Ammar Al-Sarraf, the acting head of the Support Services Department in the Anti-Cybercrime Department, has warned saying social media advertisements are the primary source of fraud in Kuwait.

Al-Sarraf noted that “there are seasons of fraud and deception,” citing periods when demand for domestic workers surges, leading to an increase in scams and fraudulent activities under the name of Al-Durra Company. During a television interview recently, Al-Sarraf revealed that fraudsters obtain phone numbers through fraudulent websites by exploiting authentication services. Impersonating Al-Durra Company, these criminals send links asking victims to fill out forms and register their civil ID numbers. Once the authentication code is obtained from the telecommunications company, the fraudster uses it to purchase a phone number in the victim’s name and subsequently gains access to their bank accounts.

Al-Sarraf highlighted that most of these fraud operations are conducted from outside Kuwait. However, if the perpetrators are located within the country, they can be apprehended within 24 hours. He also explained that repeated and provocative reports from some celebrities are sometimes not registered and are instead referred to the Media Prosecution for a decision.

The coordination between the Crime Department and the Prosecution is crucial, with the latter ultimately determining how these cases are handled. Al-Sarraf urged parents to monitor their children closely, particularly regarding the games they play and the electronic devices they use. He recounted an incident where a Kuwaiti mother sought help from the Cybercrime Department after her daughter spent approximately 20,000 dinars on the TikTok app to support various users. Despite the mother’s efforts, she was unable to stop it.

By Munif Naif
Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff