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Bahrain has stepped up its efforts to raise awareness about online fraud and protect people from falling victim to scamsters.
Dr Meshaal Al Thawadi, founder of Bahrain’s national campaign against electronic fraud, ‘Protect Yourself ... Be Aware’, issued a stark warning on the sophisticated and constantly evolving tactics used by fraudsters.
“Cyber fraud methods are evolving continuously,” said Dr Al Thawadi during an event, ‘Protecting Civil Societies from Fraud’, organised by the Social Development Ministry at the Isa Town Social Charity Society headquarters in Isa Town yesterday.
“Everyone must remain cautious of all applications, links, emails, SMS and especially unknown phone numbers carrying unfamiliar international or local codes.”
He explained that modern scams are increasingly taking place through WhatsApp groups that target individuals by manipulating them emotionally or socially to steal funds.
“We are now seeing fraud attempts where people are lured through unreliable donation links or through fake voting pages for events or awards – some of which are sophisticated phishing scams.”
Dr Al Thawadi stressed the importance of vigilance when conducting financial transactions online.
“To protect yourself from online fraud, you must be cautious when paying on websites or through apps using debit or credit cards. A safer method would be to use prepaid cards loaded with the amount needed, which can be used as required,” he advised.
“Do not save sensitive personal information on websites or applications, and avoid answering calls from unfamiliar numbers, especially those from suspicious countries.”
He noted that Bahrain’s national campaign has played a critical role in educating the public about the mechanisms and dangers of cyber fraud.
“Through the national campaign, we have raised awareness about how electronic fraud works and how to properly respond to it. This is vital for safeguarding ourselves from falling into the traps laid by fraudsters.”
Dr Al Thawadi also referenced international indicators suggesting that the cost of global fraud is expected to soar.
“Fraud cases worldwide are projected to reach $10.5 trillion, according to international indicators,” he stated, underscoring the gravity of the threat.
He also raised concerns specifically directed at civil societies.
“There’s growing concern that scammers are targeting civil organisations by calling from local numbers – often starting with 6500 – and pretending to require societal information or claiming there’s an issue with eKeys,” he warned.
“Once the information is shared, they are able to access the actual data. In some cases, fraudsters manage to mirror phones or computers simply by getting victims to click certain links or instal suspicious apps.”
Dr Al Thawadi stressed the need for robust protocols from the point of request for support is received to the point of fund disbursement.
“There must be a secure procedure in place from the moment a support request is submitted to the final payment. Our official and banking channels are strong; the issue lies in individuals falling victim during the process – especially when working with external suppliers or importers.”
He concluded with a call to action for both institutions and individuals.
“Technology is an enabler, but it can also be a weapon in the wrong hands. We must enhance our cybersecurity culture and ensure every user knows how to detect and respond to fraud attempts.
“The national campaign continues to work alongside government and financial institutions to educate citizens and protect society’s most vulnerable segments from fraud-related losses.”
Victims can contact the Anti-Economic Crimes Directorate hotline at 992 about any cyber fruad case.
To learn about the latest scam methods, citizens and residents can join the Financial and Cyber Crimes WhatsApp groups, available in Arabic and English. They can join the group by going to the @acees_bh Instagram page and clicking on the link in the bio.
mohammed@gdnmedia.bh
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