Big-hearted Bahrainis are being urged to beware of Good Samaritans with evil intentions as the authorities warn of conmen ‘playing the charity card’ to raise funds for terrorism.
Speaking on the Interior Ministry’s Al Aman social media programme yesterday, Hidd Police Station head Colonel Dr Osama Bahar stated that some ‘charities’ act as a front for either scammers or terrorist organisations who would direct the funds towards hostile actions.
Col Dr Bahar
“There is an old proverb, ‘do good and evil comes back to you’, which applies perfectly to this situation,” said Col Dr Bahar. “Terrorist groups especially exploit donations that were intended for a good cause to ultimately harm our country.
“For example, it might be in the form of message on your phone or email appealing for aid to help children in a war zone. There is usually an accompanying image that appeals to your generosity, sense of honour and compassion. However, it is these emotions that might blind you to the need of verifying the organisation and checking whether it is licensed, a trusted charity, or merely a front for a scam.”
Charity fraud involves scammers using fake organisations, stolen names, or deceptive tactics to steal donations meant for people in need. Col Dr Bahar believes the safest way to ensure money goes to a legitimate cause is to check whether the fundraisers have officially registered their entity.
Scammers often request an immediate donation or use emotional manipulation to bypass critical thinking. They may ask the potential donor to pay via cryptocurrency, wire transfers, pre-loaded money cards, or gift cards.
Sometimes, scammers use a name or web address that looks or sounds nearly identical to a well-known, reputable non-profit organisation (NPO), with one or two letters altered.
Additionally, terrorist organisations and violent extremist groups frequently exploit the public’s generosity through fake charities to covertly fund their operations.
Known globally as Terrorist Financing (TF), this tactic exploits the inherent anonymity and one-way flow of charitable donations to bypass traditional banking surveillance.
Terrorist gangs establish entirely fake NPOs, often focusing on humanitarian aid, orphanages, or medical relief in active conflict zones. These names often sound highly official or closely mimic legitimate groups.
Col Dr Bahar’s advice to people looking to donate is simple – only give money to reputable and licensed organisations. “If you want to donate, you can use the e-government portal (bahrain.bh),” he said.
“The Zakat Fund is also there to extend a helping hand and there is also the Fael Khair service which helps pay off the debts of those facing financial hardships. In Fael Khair, you can even review the details of the specific case you which to assist. This way, you do good and the benefit returns to your fellow citizens.
“That is not only better than relying on anonymous WhatsApp messages, but is also more blessed than transferring money only for it to end up in the hands of hostile groups.”
Col Dr Bahar reminded people that collecting funds without a licence from the Social Development Ministry is a crime punishable by law.
People can look at the list of registered charities either by visiting the ministry’s’ website (social.gov.bh) or on BenefitPay via the Charity option.
The GDN reported earlier this month that a new set of administrative violations and fines governing the collection, receipt and transfer of funds for public purposes were introduced by the ministry, as part of tighter controls over fundraising activities in Bahrain.
Social Development Minister Osama Al Alawi issued a two-week deadline for inactive civil society and charitable organisations to regularise their legal status.
Affected organisations are required to quickly convene their general assemblies and complete all mandatory regulatory and administrative procedures.
The ministry warned that any organisations failing to meet this deadline would face legal actions, including potential dissolution procedures.
The aim is to reinforce accountability over money collected for public-benefit causes, with penalties ranging from BD100 to BD10,000, depending on the nature of the violation.
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