Bahrain is stepping up efforts to strengthen safeguards against electronic fraud amid increasingly sophisticated cybercrime threats.
Parliament and Shura Council Affairs Minister Ghanim Al Buainain said authorities were implementing integrated policies combining awareness campaigns, regulatory measures and institutional co-ordination to strengthen protection against evolving cyber threats and preserve trust in the kingdom’s digital environment. He added that extensive awareness campaigns had been rolled out across websites, social media platforms, television and radio, delivering guidance in multiple languages to reach all segments of society.
“These campaigns focus on explaining modern methods of electronic fraud, ways to avoid becoming victims and the mechanisms for reporting such crimes,” Mr Al Buainain said in a written response to MPs who had submitted a proposal to increase public awareness to combat fraud.
Officers from the General Directorate for Anti-Corruption and Economic and Electronic Security regularly participate in media programmes and community initiatives to spread cybersecurity awareness and promote vigilance. Authorities have also organised lectures and workshops targeting different groups in society to educate them and provide tools for self-protection.
Mr Al Buainain further explained that the Interior Ministry works closely with entities such as the Consumer Protection Directorate, commercial banks, financial auditing firms and exchange houses to strengthen institutional co-ordination in combating cybercrime.
A dedicated co-ordination committee has also been established bringing together the Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB), the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) and the Interior Ministry to develop joint strategies addressing awareness, regulatory and technical aspects of fraud prevention.
Among the preventive measures introduced is a requirement for telecommunications companies to verify the identity of users through biometric methods such as fingerprint or facial recognition before activating SIM cards, reducing the risk of identity theft.
Authorities have also implemented technical solutions to block fraudulent international calls and suspicious text messages, which have become a growing source of scams targeting residents.
The TRA has issued a guidance paper outlining regulatory and technical controls aimed at reducing fraudulent text messages, which was published for public consultation to encourage stakeholder participation.
In addition, an online awareness platform titled ‘Safe Internet’ has been launched to provide guidance on safe digital practices and protection against cyber threats.
Mr Al Buainain said the CBB had introduced binding supervisory regulations requiring financial institutions to strengthen identity verification procedures, cybersecurity systems and transaction monitoring.
Banks are also required to alert authorities to suspicious transaction patterns, while the central bank continues to run awareness programmes in co-operation with the private sector.
These measures have had a significant impact, with fraudulent transactions representing only a very small percentage of transactions conducted through the Fawri payment system, he noted.
The government also reviewed a proposal to delay international money transfers by 48 hours to reduce fraud risks.
However, Mr Al Buainain said such a measure could conflict with international banking practices that prioritise speed and efficiency in financial services, potentially affecting customer confidence and the resilience of the financial system.
“Achieving the right balance between transaction speed and security remains essential,” he said.
mohammed@gdnmedia.bh
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