Two residents arrested for promoting fake Hajj services in Mecca | Details

Dismantling fake Hajj service promoters in the holy city

As part of the ongoing and tireless efforts of Saudi security authorities to ensure the safety and security of pilgrims, security patrols in the Holy City of Mecca announced the arrest of an Egyptian resident, both male and female. This decisive action was taken due to their involvement in financial and cyber fraud. They had been posting advertisements promoting fake and misleading Hajj services across various social media platforms, exploiting Muslims' desire to perform the pilgrimage to defraud their victims and steal their money.

The security authorities confirmed that the accused were immediately arrested, and all necessary regulatory and legal procedures were taken against them, before they were referred to the Public Prosecution to complete the investigations and apply the deterrent penalties stipulated by the Saudi system in cases of financial fraud and cybercrimes.

General context: The strictness of the “No Hajj without a permit” campaign

This incident comes at a crucial time, coinciding with intensive preparations for the Hajj season. The Saudi Ministry of Interior, in cooperation with the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, is launching rigorous awareness and field campaigns under the slogan "No Hajj Without a Permit." Historically, Hajj seasons in previous decades suffered from the phenomenon of unregistered pilgrims and fraudulent Hajj campaigns, which caused dangerous overcrowding that hindered the provision of logistical and health services to registered pilgrims. Since the launch of Vision 2030, there has been a complete shift towards digitalization, with the "Nusk" platform and the electronic portal for domestic pilgrims becoming the official and sole channels for booking Hajj packages, significantly curtailing the activities of fraudsters and bogus entities.

The importance of combating fraud and its local and international impact

Combating the promotion of fraudulent Hajj services is of paramount importance on several levels. Locally, it contributes to tighter security and organizational control within the holy sites, preventing overcrowding that could lead to incidents disrupting crowd management plans, thus ensuring a safe and smooth spiritual experience for pilgrims. Regionally and internationally, these proactive security measures send a reassuring message to the entire Muslim world that the Kingdom is vigilant against any despicable attempts to exploit Muslims wishing to perform the fifth pillar of Islam, and is protecting their funds from transnational organized crime gangs.

Public security warnings and official reporting methods

In this regard, Saudi Public Security reiterated its appeal to all citizens, residents, and visitors to fully comply with the approved Hajj regulations and instructions. The relevant authorities emphasized the importance of not being misled by deceptive advertisements circulating online and urged the immediate reporting of any entities or individuals promoting unauthorized campaigns or services.

Security authorities have established free and rapid communication channels to receive reports around the clock. In the Makkah, Madinah, Riyadh, and Eastern Province regions, reports can be made by calling 911. In the rest of the Kingdom, reports can be made by calling 999.