Elderly Kuwaiti loses 37,000 dinars in phone scam by fake detective

A 69-year-old Kuwaiti man fell victim to a phone scam that cost him his entire bank balance of KD 37,000 (approximately $120,000)

The fraudster, posing as a detective, claimed that hackers were trying to access the victim’s bank account and persuaded him to share sensitive information in the name of protecting his money.

Deceived by the caller’s story, the victim revealed his bank card number, PIN, and OTP (one-time password), and lost all his money in a single transaction, leaving only KD 4 in the account. It remains unclear whether the money was transferred or used for purchases.

The victim reported the incident to the Public Prosecutor, and an official investigation is underway.
A security source once again emphasizes that neither local banks nor Ministry of Interior officers ever request personal banking information or contact individuals for account security over the phone.