Kuwait warns of fake Interior Ministry scam on WhatsApp

Someone using the Interior Ministry’s name is trying to steal your bank details on WhatsApp.

Kuwait’s Ministry of Interior says fake documents are going around that carry the ministry’s official seal and even the interior minister’s name. The messages claim there’s suspicious activity on your bank account, then push you to hand over your banking information through WhatsApp.

It’s a simple trick, but a dangerous one if you’re not paying attention. Here’s exactly what the ministry said and what you should do if you get one of these messages.

What exactly did the ministry say?

In a press statement, the Ministry of Interior confirmed that forged documents are being passed around online. These documents use the ministry’s official identity and the minister’s title to look convincing. They contain claims about suspicious operations detected in people’s bank accounts.

The real aim, according to the ministry, is to lure people into sharing their banking data through WhatsApp. That’s the key detail here: a government body doesn’t normally chase you down on WhatsApp about your bank account.

The ministry said its Cyber Crime Combating Department is already following up on the case. The department will take the legal steps needed once it identifies who is behind it.

Why this matters if you live in Kuwait

This kind of scam works because it looks official. A document with a government logo and a minister’s name feels trustworthy, especially to someone who isn’t used to how Kuwaiti ministries actually communicate. Expats who recently moved here, and older residents who may not check every detail closely, are often the easiest targets.

The ministry’s message was blunt: don’t respond to these messages, and never share your banking data or verification codes (the one-time passcodes your bank sends by SMS or app) with anyone who contacts you this way. No bank or ministry needs your verification code to help you. If someone asks for it, that alone is a red flag.

You can find more local news updates for Kuwait as this story and others like it develop.

What should you actually do if you get one of these messages?

1. Don’t click any links inside the message, and don’t reply.
2. Don’t share your bank account number, card details, or any verification code, no matter how official the message looks.
3. Contact your bank directly using the number on the back of your card or on their official app, not any number given in the suspicious message.
4. If you’ve already shared details, call your bank immediately to freeze your card or account.
5. Report the message to the Ministry of Interior’s Cyber Crime Combating Department so they can add it to their investigation.
6. Delete the message once you’ve reported it, so you’re not tempted to open it again.

It’s worth remembering that real government communication in Kuwait doesn’t usually happen through random WhatsApp forwards asking for personal banking information. If a message feels rushed or urgent, that’s often the point. Scammers want you to react fast, before you stop and think.

We’ve seen similar patterns before with fake messages pretending to be from banks or government offices, so this isn’t an isolated trick. It’s part of a wider pattern of fraud attempts that use fear and official-looking branding to pressure people into acting quickly.

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