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People hunting for a bargain online are being urged to think twice before handing over their money, as fake car and electrical appliance listings on social media can leave buyers out of pocket.
Hidd Police Station head Colonel Dr Osama Bahar warned people not to pay deposits or transfer money based solely on an online post, stressing that buyers should inspect the item and verify the seller before making any payment.
Speaking on the Interior Ministry’s Al Aman radio programme, he questioned why anyone would pay a deposit for a used car after seeing nothing more than a photograph online.
“We are approaching 2027, yet people continue to purchase used cars online,” he said.
“How can you pay a deposit for a car advertised on a website or social media account without inspecting it or seeing anything other than a photo?”
Col Dr Bahar warned that the photograph or listing could be fake, while the website or social media account itself could have been hacked and used by a fraudster to target potential victims.
Even if the vehicle exists, he said, buyers may not know whether it is in good condition, has been involved in an accident or is subject to a legal restriction.
The same caution applies to electrical appliances, he added, urging people not to make purchases from sellers who communicate only through WhatsApp.
“You have not spoken to this person through a landline, or inspected the product properly, so you may not really know who you are dealing with,” he said.
His advice was simple: buy from a reputable business and, where possible, inspect the product in person.
“Go out and choose the refrigerator that suits you and your family and best fits your kitchen,” he said. “It is not the same as ordering a meal online through an app.
“E-commerce and online shopping is convenient, but it is far better to spend your money on something reliable for your children and the people you love than to hand it over so simply to a fraudster.”
The warning comes amid wider efforts by the Interior Ministry to combat online fraud. In August, the ministry urged the public to be cautious of direct fraud attempts and to conduct official transactions only through approved channels.
It also warned against scammers impersonating ministry officials, following cases in which fraudsters posed as government representatives to pressure unsuspecting people into handing over money.
The GDN reported in April that more than 50 Bahrainis had been targeted by online fraudsters posing as ministry officials in the wake of the Iran attacks. Victims were directed to links that locked their browsers and demanded payment of a supposed ‘penalty fee’.
The latest warning serves as a reminder that a tempting online bargain can quickly become an expensive mistake.
Anyone who suspects fraud can contact the General Directorate of Anti-Corruption and Economic and Electronic Security, either by calling the 992 hotline, by sending a message on WhatsApp at 17108108, or by filling in a form on acees.gov.bh.
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