Fake visa call empties Kuwait resident’s bank account in minutes

A Lebanese resident of Kuwait lost nearly all the money in his bank account after a scammer posing as an official used personal details about his family’s planned visit to trick him into approving a digital authentication request.

Scammer exploited personal knowledge

The fraudster contacted the resident last Tuesday morning, claiming there was a problem with his parents’ visit visa application to Kuwait. The caller knew the resident’s occupation and asked whether he was arranging a visit for his parents, the victim told local media. When the resident confirmed, the caller said the application had been rejected because his biometric fingerprints were outdated.

Victim approved authentication request

The caller then said an authentication request would be sent through the “My Identity” app to schedule an appointment to update the fingerprints. Believing this was part of an official procedure, the resident approved the request. Within minutes, he received messages showing that 25 Kuwaiti dinars had been withdrawn from his bank account.

When he tried to log in to his account, he found that his password had been changed. After regaining access, he discovered that only 900 fils remained. The resident said he had not shared any banking information or verification code with the caller.

Bank confirms fraud

Contacting his bank to investigate the transactions, the resident was told he had fallen victim to fraud. He said the incident was particularly alarming because the caller knew his employment details and the specifics of his parents’ planned visit, which made the conversation appear credible and reinforced his belief that he was dealing with a legitimate transaction.

Caution urged for digital requests

The case shows how fraudsters can use personal information and the semblance of official procedures to persuade victims to approve digital authentication requests, the resident’s account indicates. Rather than relying solely on suspicious links, such schemes often employ convincing stories and carefully timed requests to gain cooperation.

Authorities in Kuwait, where many expatriates rely on family visit visas, urge residents to treat unexpected digital requests with caution, even when the caller appears familiar with personal circumstances. Any claim involving a visa application, biometric update or official authentication should be independently verified through the relevant authority before a request is approved, the report noted.