Kuwait Authorities Warn of Online Fraud After Receiving 300 Complaints

Kuwait’s Public Prosecution Office has warned the public regarding online fraud after receiving over 300 complaints from citizens and expatriates, local media reported.

The Ministry of Interior (MOI) warned of a specific application called (AnyDesk). In a press release, MOI revealed that many cases of fraud and theft were reported after using this application, which allows any person to gain remote access to others’ phones and computers. The ministry also warned against sharing Onetime Password (OTP) messages, personal or bank information with suspicious individuals and entities.

The police have also arrested 20 residents, who were providing services that violate Kuwaiti laws and regulations as well as defrauding people by using international and encrypted numbers through applications and social networking sites.

Experts warned of international gangs targeting Kuwaiti bank accounts, as well as using suspicious applications to hack personal data and blackmail their owners.

Dr. Safa’a Zaman, head of the Kuwaiti Society for Information Security said that applications such as AnyDesk “allow people to enter remotely to the device for several reasons, including what companies use to provide assistance to customers remotely, and unfortunately recently, some of these telephone services have been used for bad purposes, which is accessing devices for the purpose of fraud.”

Kuwaiti public prosecution has urged citizens and expatriates to ignore such downloading calls to head off falling prey to electronic fraud.