MANAMA: Benefit has announced its support for the Bahrain Association of Banks’ (BAB) National Fraud Prevention Awareness Campaign as a ‘bronze category sponsor’.
The campaign is in line with Vision 2030 to position the kingdom as a frontrunner and leader within the financial sector in the Middle East and North Africa region.
Fraud and financial crime is on the rise in the Middle East, according to the latest survey from professional services firm PwC.
There has been a steep rise in financial crime in the Middle East during the past two years, with nearly half of all local companies reporting at least one occurrence over that period.
The National Fraud Prevention Awareness Campaign will bring to light several electronic fraud operations targeting bank customers.
The campaign will depend mainly on broadcasting awareness messages through various channels directed to all segments and ages of users of banking services in Bahrain.
The campaign was launched under the hashtag #be_careful including awareness messages through videos and photos that are mainly published on the association’s Instagram, in addition to television and radio messages in different languages.
Benefit chief executive Abdulwahed AlJanahi said: “As a leader within the space, we develop and support continuous efforts to consolidate and push forward the achievements in combating fraud to better safeguard individuals and the overall communities in Bahrain. It is our responsibility and duty to come together for crucial campaigns especially in a time where the threat of online fraud is significant. Digitisation and online financial activities are accelerating at a rapid pace, and fraud has been a worldwide issue due to the current pandemic.”
He added: “The National Fraud Awareness Campaign is an important step to increase awareness and educate customers on what they need to be aware of. what is expected of them and the role they play in prevention. We are pleased to join this cause to highlight the fraud risks, respond quickly and ultimately emerge stronger.”
Dr Waheed Al Qassim, chief executive of BAB, said the campaign focusses mainly on broadcasting awareness messages through various channels directed to all segments of users of banking services in the kingdom.
The campaign is being run in partnership with the Central Bank of Bahrain, General Directorate of Anti-corruption and Economic and Electronic Security at the Interior Ministry, the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority, and members of the association from financial and banking institutions.
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