Skip to main content

Saudi Arabia (SA)

Saudi Arabia is the largest country in the Middle East and the world's leading oil producer — a rapidly transforming absolute monarchy embarking on an ambitious Vision 2030 diversification agenda that has already delivered entertainment venues, mixed-gender events, a booming tourism sector, and the Riyadh Metro.

Capital: Riyadh
Region: Middle East
Language: Arabic
Currency: SAR (ر.س)
Cost of living: Moderate (index 60)
Emergency: 911
Premium

Scam Warnings

Common scams targeting expats in Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia's rapid economic expansion and large expat workforce creates fertile ground for scams targeting newcomers. The most dangerous scams involve fraudulent job offers, contract substitution, property rental fraud, and investment schemes. Government-impersonation scams via WhatsApp and SMS are increasing in 2026. Saudi authorities (ZATCA, SFDA, SAMA, and MOI) have launched multiple consumer awareness campaigns — report suspicious activity to the relevant authority.

Contract Substitution Fraud

critical

Worker arrives in Saudi Arabia to find the actual job is completely different from the offer letter — different role, lower salary, worse conditions, or even no job at all. Historically most common for domestic workers and lower-paid expats, but documented in professional roles too. The fraudster may charge recruitment fees and then disappear.

How to spot it
  • - Offer letter contains vague job descriptions or unrealistically high salaries for the role
  • - Recruiter asks for upfront recruitment fees — illegal in most sending countries
  • - Company cannot be verified on MISA business registry or their Nitaqat status is unknown
  • - Offer is through an informal WhatsApp contact rather than an official recruitment process
  • - Employer insists you travel immediately before all documents are finalised
What to do: Verify the employer's Saudi Commercial Registration (CR) via MISA (misa.gov.sa). Check Nitaqat status on Muqeem.sa. Get the employment contract registered on Qiwa before departure. If already in Saudi Arabia with a substituted contract, contact MHRSD (19911) or your home country embassy immediately.

Property Rental Scam

critical

Fraudulent property listings targeting newly arrived expats — particularly common on Facebook groups and WhatsApp. The "landlord" advertises a property they do not own, takes a substantial advance deposit (SAR 5,000–50,000), and disappears. Listings are often for luxury properties at below-market prices. Some scammers use WhatsApp video calls showing a real property they do not own.

How to spot it
  • - Rent is significantly below market rate for a premium property
  • - Landlord insists on advance deposit before allowing a property viewing
  • - Landlord is based "overseas" or has excuses for why they cannot meet in person
  • - No Ejar contract offered — "we will sort the paperwork later"
  • - Payment requested via cash or informal transfer app rather than bank transfer to a business account
What to do: Never pay a deposit without viewing the property in person. Verify property ownership via REGA (rega.gov.sa) before paying anything. Insist on an Ejar-registered contract. Pay only by documented bank transfer. Report fraud to Riyadh or Jeddah police (911) and REGA.

Fake Investment and Cryptocurrency Scams

critical

Investment schemes targeting expats with high disposable incomes and tax-free salaries — promising exceptional returns on cryptocurrency, Forex, gold trading, or "Vision 2030 investment opportunities." Often promoted via WhatsApp groups, Instagram, and social media. Some use fabricated news articles featuring fake celebrity endorsements. Losses can be catastrophic — entire savings wiped.

How to spot it
  • - Guaranteed returns of 10%+ per month — no legitimate investment guarantees this
  • - Pressure to "act now" or "limited spots available"
  • - Platform or broker not registered with SAMA (Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority)
  • - Investment comes through a WhatsApp group or social media contact rather than licensed broker
  • - Success stories from "clients" are all anonymous with no verifiable identity
What to do: Only invest through SAMA-regulated financial institutions. Check the SAMA register of licensed brokers (sama.gov.sa). Never send money to unverified platforms. Report to SAMA's consumer complaints portal.

Government Impersonation (ABSHER, ZATCA, MOI)

warning

Fraudsters impersonate ABSHER, ZATCA, MOI, CCHI, or MHRSD via WhatsApp, SMS, or email — claiming your Iqama has expired, you owe taxes, or your insurance has been cancelled. They ask for personal information, Iqama photos, bank details, or request payment via a fake portal link. Government agencies in Saudi Arabia do NOT request payment or personal information via WhatsApp or informal SMS.

How to spot it
  • - Message arrives via WhatsApp from a private number claiming to be a government entity
  • - SMS or email with a link that looks like an official government site but has a different URL
  • - Urgency pressure: "Act within 24 hours or your Iqama will be cancelled"
  • - Request for Iqama photo, bank details, or password via message
  • - Threatening tone claiming immediate arrest or deportation
What to do: Check your actual Iqama status via the official ABSHER app (absher.sa). Do not click any links in suspicious messages. Call the relevant government department directly using numbers from the official government website. Report scam messages to the Cybercrime Unit (ict@moi.gov.sa).

Secondhand Car Fraud

warning

Common on haraj.com.sa and social media: odometer tampering, hidden damage from flood or accidents, stolen vehicles, or vehicles with outstanding traffic fines or loans registered against them. Sellers sometimes accept a deposit then disappear. Some cars have structural damage from Saudi road accidents repaired cosmetically.

How to spot it
  • - Price significantly below market for a relatively new vehicle
  • - Seller refuses a Fahes (technical inspection) before sale
  • - Unable to show original ownership documents (Istimara)
  • - Seller pushes for immediate payment without time for due diligence
  • - Vehicle has more wear than the stated mileage suggests
What to do: Always check traffic fines via NAJM before purchase. Request a Fahes inspection certificate. Verify ownership via MISA/Muroor records. Do not transfer any payment until you hold the original ownership document. Consider using syarah.com or a reputable dealer for used cars with inspection guarantees.

Fake Driving Licence Exchange Agents

warning

Unofficial "agents" offering to expedite driving licence exchanges for cash payments outside the official Muroor process. These agents take fees (SAR 500–2,000+) and either produce fake documents, deliver no result, or disappear. In some cases, the "expedited" licence is fraudulent — invalidating your ability to legally drive.

How to spot it
  • - Agent contacted via WhatsApp or word of mouth rather than official Muroor channels
  • - Promises "no appointment needed" or "done in one day"
  • - Asks for your original documents and keeps them
  • - Charges significantly more than official government fees
What to do: Use only the official Muroor process (via Muroor branches or ABSHER). Official fee: SAR 200–350. Report fraudulent agents to MOI.

Medical Counterfeit Products

warning

Counterfeit medicines, supplements, and healthcare products sold via online marketplaces, social media, and informal vendors. Particularly risky for controlled substances, fertility drugs, and expensive medications. Saudi Arabia's SFDA (Saudi Food and Drug Authority) actively combats this but online channels remain a loophole.

How to spot it
  • - Medicine offered at significantly below-pharmacy price via social media
  • - Packaging looks different from the brand you know
  • - No visible SFDA approval number on the packaging
  • - Sold via WhatsApp or informal messenger rather than a licensed pharmacy
What to do: Buy all medications only from SFDA-licensed pharmacies. Report suspected counterfeit products to SFDA (sfda.gov.sa). If you have taken a suspect medication and feel unwell, go immediately to an emergency room.

Fake Iqama Renewal Services

warning

Scammers offer "guaranteed" Iqama renewal for cash — particularly targeting expats whose employers are in a poor Nitaqat status or who have compliance issues. The scammer takes money, promises to "process" the renewal, and delivers nothing — sometimes resulting in overstay fines while the expat thought the situation was being handled.

How to spot it
  • - Offered via word of mouth or WhatsApp by someone claiming to know "someone inside" immigration
  • - Upfront cash payment required before any documentation
  • - Cannot provide receipts or official documentation of the process
  • - Charges significantly above official Iqama renewal fee of SAR 650
What to do: Iqama renewal is handled only via ABSHER or official Jawazat (immigration) offices. Never pay cash to an intermediary for government services. If your employer cannot renew your Iqama, contact MHRSD (19911) or your home country embassy.

Domestic Helper Recruitment Fraud

info

Fraudulent domestic worker recruitment agencies take fees and then fail to deliver a helper, or deliver a helper who has been misled about their working conditions. Some recruitment agencies in sending countries (Philippines, Indonesia, Ethiopia) operate with forged Saudi employer documents.

How to spot it
  • - Agency not registered with MHRSD domestic worker licensing system
  • - Price significantly below normal recruitment agency fees
  • - Helper's documents are unclear or incomplete
  • - Agency refuses to use standard MHRSD contract templates
What to do: Use only MHRSD-licensed domestic worker recruitment agencies. Check the agency's licence number via the MHRSD portal. Use the standard Musaned platform (musaned.com.sa) for domestic worker contracts.

Reporting

Where to report: MOI Cybercrime Unit: ict@moi.gov.sa / 19911 (non-emergency police). National Cybersecurity Authority (NCA) incident reporting: nca.gov.sa/en/report-incident. ZATCA for tax/financial scams: zatca.gov.sa. SAMA for financial/banking fraud: sama.gov.sa consumer complaints (email: CPDC@sama.gov.sa). SFDA for counterfeit medicine/food: sfda.gov.sa. REGA for property fraud: rega.gov.sa. MHRSD for employment and labour scams: mhrsd.gov.sa / 19911.

Consumer helpline: 19911 (MHRSD labour and employment complaints) / 920000490 (ZATCA) / 920000825 (SFDA) / 911 (police for criminal fraud). SAMA consumer complaints: sama.gov.sa/en-US/ConsumerProtection. Consumer Protection Association (non-profit): cpa.org.sa / scam.cpa.org.sa for fraud reports.