MoI raises awareness on cybercrime prevention

Doha, Qatar - The Ministry of Interior (MoI) has organized a webinar to raise awareness about cybercrime prevention among residents. Officer First Lieutenant Omer Ahmed Salim from the Economic and Cyber Crimes Prevention Department emphasized the use of prepaid cards for online transactions to reduce potential financial losses in case of hacking or fraud.

Salim highlighted common online scams, including phishing emails and impersonation of trusted entities, and advised residents to use secure websites, avoid sharing sensitive information via email, phone, or messaging apps, and verify financial transactions, especially those involving large sums of money.

He warned against scammers impersonating government officials, bank employees, or other representatives to obtain personal information and urged residents to only send money through authorized exchange houses and financial institutions. Salim stressed the importance of never disclosing OTPs, Qatar ID details, or banking information to callers claiming to represent government agencies or financial institutions.

The webinar also addressed scams involving WhatsApp accounts, where fraudsters use stolen profile pictures to impersonate friends or relatives. Salim stressed that residents should independently verify suspicious calls and contacts before taking any action, and that the MoI would investigate and pursue fraudsters operating within Qatar, collaborating with international authorities when necessary to recover stolen funds.