Is that really your bank?
Fake messages that look like they come from your bank are the single most common fraud in the Gulf. Here is how to tell, and what to do. Most are phishing messages with a suspicious link.
What these messages say
Scammers copy the tone of a real bank alert and add a deadline. These are wordings people commonly report receiving:
“Your account has been closed — click here to reactivate.”
“Your account is suspended pending verification.”
“Your card has been blocked. Update your data to avoid suspension.”
“A correction entry is required on your account — confirm your details.”
The red flags
Any one of these is enough to stop. A real bank alert does not need you to act through a link.
⚠️ Urgency and a threat — closed, suspended, blocked, final notice.
⚠️ A link that is not on the bank's own official domain.
⚠️ Any request for your OTP, PIN, password or full card number.
⚠️ A sender name that looks right but a number that is not the bank's.
⚠️ A payment requested to a personal account rather than through the bank.
The one rule that protects you
Your bank will never ask for your OTP, PIN or password by phone, SMS, email or WhatsApp — and will never ask you to move money to a “safe account”. Verify by calling the number on the back of your card, or by opening your bank's official app yourself. Never use the number or link in the message.
If you already clicked or paid
Call your bank's fraud line immediately — the number on the back of your card — and ask them to freeze the card and reverse any payment. Change your passwords and turn on two-step verification. Keep every message and screenshot as evidence, then report through the official channel below.
Report it officially
🇦🇪 UAE
Dubai Police eCrime (ecrime.ae, 901) · Abu Dhabi Aman 8002626 · Ministry of Interior e-Crime · emergencies 999.
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia
Ministry of Interior e-Crime platform · report financial fraud to your bank and SAMA · emergencies 911.
🇶🇦 Qatar
Q-CERT / NCSA [email protected] for cyber incidents · police 999 for fraud.
🇰🇼 Kuwait
CITRA Cyber Security [email protected] · Ministry of Interior cybercrime unit · emergency 112.
🇧🇭 Bahrain
National Cyber Security Center [email protected] · Ministry of Interior economic & electronic security · emergencies 999.
🇴🇲 Oman
OCERT [email protected] for cyber incidents · Royal Oman Police 9999.