Everything you need to know about electronic fraud
In the era of modern technology and rapid online communication, electronic systems have become an integral part of our daily lives. With the increasing use of the Internet and social media, the Internet is no longer just a means of communication and entertainment, but has also become a dangerous arena for cyber fraud crimes.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is considered one of the leading countries in using technology in all fields, but with this development new challenges have emerged, including electronic fraud that targets all age and economic groups in the Kingdom.
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What is electronic fraud?
Electronic fraud in Saudi law means the use of modern means of communication to carry out fraud and deception operations through forgery and deception with the intention of achieving personal gains, harming a person or business, or stealing information.
What are the types of electronic fraud and deception in Saudi Arabia?
Electronic fraud occurs over the Internet, and the most important types of electronic fraud in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are:
Impersonation: By stealing people’s information and data and using their personal accounts for theft, fraud, and illegal activities.
Commercial electronic fraud: This fraud is carried out through untrusted electronic stores during buying and selling operations.
Electronic fraud through social media: various such as Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram.
Electronic fraud through fake advertisements: which are displayed and published on the Internet.
Electronic fraud by forging websites.
Fraud using emails: claiming that it is an official body, for example requesting disclosure of credit card data and bank account numbers.
Some examples of types of electronic fraud can be mentioned as:
Email fraud: Scammers send fraudulent emails claiming to be from an official body or well-known institution and asking the victim to provide personal or financial information such as credit card numbers and bank accounts.
Telephone fraud: Fraudsters contact the victim, pretend to be from official sources, and ask the victim to provide personal or financial information.
Online fraud: Scammers use fake apps and websites to collect personal and financial information from victims.
Electronic fraud via social media: Scammers use social media to publish fraudulent content to communicate with and deceive the victim.
Electronic game fraud: Scammers use electronic games to collect the victim’s personal data and exploit it to access personal and financial information.
Everything you need to know about electronic fraud
What is the penalty for electronic fraud in Saudi Arabia?
The Saudi government has approved a number of strict and deterrent penalties through many laws and regulations, including the Anti-Cybercrime Law in 2017:
Article 3 of the Anti-Cybercrime Law states:
Any person who commits any of the following cybercrimes shall be punished by imprisonment for a period not exceeding one year and a fine not exceeding five hundred thousand riyals, or by one of these two penalties:
Illegal access to a website.
Illegal access to people’s accounts, threatening and blackmailing them.
Eavesdropping on what is sent via the information network.
Violating private life by misusing mobile phones.
Defaming and harming others through information technology.
Article 5 of the Anti-Cybercrime Law states:
Any person who commits any of the following cybercrimes shall be punished by imprisonment for a period not exceeding three years and a fine not exceeding two million riyals, or by one of these two penalties:
Seizing movable property or a bond for himself or others, or signing this bond through fraud, taking a false name, or impersonating an incorrect identity.
Accessing banking, credit, or securities ownership data without proper legal justification to obtain data, funds, or the services they provide.
How to file a fraud report in Saudi Arabia?
If a person falls victim to an electronic fraud crime, fraud can be reported in Saudi Arabia by following the following steps:
The crime must be reported to the nearest security center located at the place where the crime occurred.
The security center organizes a crime report based on photos, conversations, and documents owned by the victim, and refers them to the Saudi Bureau of Investigation and Public Prosecution to investigate the crime.
The Bureau of Investigation and Public Prosecution must investigate the identity of the suspect in cooperation with the competent authorities.
After identifying the suspect, the court will order him to appear before it for interrogation.
After interrogation, the Saudi Bureau of Investigation and Public Prosecution will prepare the indictment and refer it to the competent criminal court.
The complainant can also claim compensation for the damages he suffered as a result of the crime.
You can file a complaint and report electronic fraud and deception through the Cybercrime Combating Agency by following the following steps:
Log in to the official website of the Cybercrime Combating Agency.
Choose to submit a report from the list.
Choose the type of report (electronic fraud report).
Enter all required data.
Attach required evidence such as written or audio conversations.
Verify the accuracy of information.
Click on send report.
Wait for a response through the device.
Everything you need to know about electronic fraud
The Saudi Ministry of Justice has made it possible to submit a complaint and report of electronic fraud and deception through the “Najez” platform through the following steps:
Log in to the ”Najez” electronic platform.
Choosing electronic services.
Choose a complaint service from the list of services.
Determine the type of complaint (fraud)
Write all the required data.
Mention supporting documents and evidence.
Click Send.
How do I protect myself from electronic fraud methods?
After learning about electronic fraud, its types, penalties, and methods of reporting the crime, what are the best ways to protect myself from electronic fraud:
Do not disclose the passwords for your personal or bank accounts to anyone.
Do not access links from anonymous sources.
Avoid responding to messages from anonymous sources.
Be careful and sure when buying and selling online if the site is reliable and secure.
Verify the source of contact before providing any personal or financial information.
Use strong passwords for your electronic accounts and make sure to change them in an organized manner.
Everything you need to know about electronic fraud
Frequently asked questions about electronic fraud
What to do if you are exposed to electronic fraud?
Log in to the Ministry of Interior website.
Choose the public security icon.
Select a cybercrime report.
Choose the type of report and write the required data.
Click on the word send.
Keep the report number.
What are the warning signs of fraud?
The following are common warning signs of fraudulent emails: spelling and grammatical errors, texts containing promises of unrealistic profits, messages threatening financial or legal consequences, and suspicious or low-quality entity logos.
Is it possible to return the money after fraud?
You may have legal rights to a refund, and an attorney can help you file a legal claim. File a police report: In some cases, recovering the amount may require resorting to legal authorities, especially if there are cases of fraud or legal violations. In such cases, you may need to file a police report and provide the required evidence and documentation.
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