Kuwait city: The Interior Ministry's cybercrime department has raised alarms over the rising threat of data and money-stealing scams targeting internet users in Kuwait. The department is actively working to protect both citizens and residents, but emphasizes the importance of staying informed about the latest cyber scams and tactics.
According to Kuwait News Agency, Lieut-Colonel Ammar Al-Sarraf, acting head of the assistance services department of the Interior Ministry's cybercrime department, revealed that around 3,000 cybercrime cases were reported last year, with an additional 164 cases reported just last month. Al-Sarraf highlighted that fake text messages from parties pretending to be official entities and banks were the most prevalent scams. Scammers are employing advanced technologies and various methods to deceive unsuspecting victims.
One particularly common scam involves advertisements for renting chalets on social media using Kuwaiti telephone numbers, which do not verify the authenticity of the social media accounts. Al-Sarraf also pointed out that online shops offering products at unrealistically low prices have lured many unsuspecting customers.
Scammers have also used fake payment links that appear legitimate and represent government or official companies to steal data and money. To protect oneself, Al-Sarraf advises verifying websites before entering any data, noting that legitimate websites in Kuwait end with a (com.kw.) line.
Al-Sarraf praised the Wamdh (flash) service for reducing fraudulent transactions and highlighted the Aman (Safety) virtual room, which brings together Kuwaiti banks, the public prosecution, and the financial crimes unit to monitor and combat cybercrimes. He disclosed that approximately KD four million (USD 13 million) were safeguarded last December, with around 2,540 cases of cybercrimes reported. Between January and May 2025, around KD one million (USD 3.2 million) were protected.
A permanent digital coordination unit was established in 2023 to shut down suspicious websites and track fake numbers. This unit successfully closed 2,300 scam sites and disconnected 2,200 fake WhatsApp numbers. Al-Sarraf explained that those caught within Kuwait are dealt with under Kuwaiti law, while those abroad are handled through Kuwait-INTERPOL cooperation. He mentioned operation "Red Tower," where a suspect targeting a communication tower in Kuwait was apprehended in a GCC country and brought to justice.
Al-Sarraf emphasized the significance of law 63/2015 for cybercrime prevention, which serves as the cornerstone of efforts against such crimes. Approximately 70 lectures are conducted annually in schools, educational bodies, and government institutions to raise awareness about these crimes. He urged citizens and residents to report any crimes to the official WhatsApp number 97283939 and to help spread awareness about the dangers of cybercrimes.