Scams by country and city: what gets reported and how to avoid it
Scammers follow the same few scripts in every country: a fake call from your bank, a fake visa or job offer, a parcel fee, an investment that cannot lose. Each guide here covers one country, with a section for each major city. We research which scams the police and authorities report and warn about most, then explain for each one how it works, the red flags, how to avoid it, what to do if it happened to you and where to report. The UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal are live.
Quick answer
In the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar, the scams reported most are calls, texts and fake websites posing as a bank, the police or a government service to get a one-time code or card details, followed by fake fines, parcel fees, job offers and investments. Never share an OTP, PIN or verification code, whoever asks, and use government services only through their official websites and apps. If you have already sent money, call your bank's fraud line first so it can try to stop the transfer, then report to the police.
- Nepal scams: what gets reported, from fake eSewa and Khalti calls to fake foreign jobsThe 7 scams Nepal's Cyber Bureau, Nepal Rastra Bank and DoFE warn about most in 2025 and 2026, from fake eSewa and Khalti calls to fake Gulf jobs: red flags and where to report.Checked 19 October 2026Read alert
- Bangladesh scams: what gets reported, from fake bKash and Nagad calls to fake Gulf visasThe 8 scams and cyber crimes Bangladesh's police, CID and Bangladesh Bank report most in 2025 and 2026, from bKash and Nagad fraud to fake Gulf visas: red flags and where to report.Checked 18 October 2026Read alert
- Pakistan scams: what gets reported, from WhatsApp hacking and fake bank calls to fake Gulf jobsThe 8 scams and cyber crimes Pakistan's NCCIA, FIA and police report most in 2025 and 2026, including fake Gulf jobs: how each works, red flags and where to report (1799).Checked 17 October 2026Read alert
- Saudi Arabia scams by region: Riyadh, Makkah, Jeddah and DammamThe 12 scams Saudi police and authorities report and warn about most in 2024 to 2026, region by region: how each works, red flags, how to avoid it and where to report.Checked 16 October 2026Read alert
- UAE scams by city: Dubai, Abu Dhabi and SharjahThe 12 scams UAE police report and warn about most in 2025 and 2026, city by city: how each works, red flags, how to avoid it, what to do if hit and where to report.Checked 16 October 2026Read alert
- Qatar scams: what gets reported in Doha and across QatarThe 12 scams Qatar’s Interior Ministry, central bank and ministries warn about most in 2024 to 2026: how each works, red flags, how to avoid it and where to report.Checked 16 October 2026Read alert
- Oman scams: what gets reported in Muscat, Salalah, Sohar and NizwaThe 10 scams Royal Oman Police and Omani authorities report and warn about most in 2024 to 2026: how each works, red flags, how to avoid it and where to report.Checked 16 October 2026Read alert
- Kuwait scams: what gets reported in Kuwait City, Hawalli, Farwaniya, Ahmadi and JahraThe 10 scams Kuwait’s Interior Ministry, Central Bank and CITRA warn about most in 2024 to 2026: how each works, red flags, how to avoid it and where to report.Checked 16 October 2026Read alert
- Bahrain scams: what gets reported in Manama, Muharraq and the other governoratesThe 11 scams Bahrain’s Interior Ministry, Central Bank and courts report most in 2024 to 2026: how each works, red flags, how to avoid it and where to report.Checked 16 October 2026Read alert
- India scams: what gets reported, from trading apps and digital arrests to fake Gulf jobsThe 10 scams India’s Home Ministry, RBI, SEBI and police report most in 2024 to 2026, including fake Gulf jobs: how each works, red flags and where to report (1930).Checked 16 October 2026Read alert
How we research these guides
We read warnings, case reports and arrests published by police forces, ministries, central banks and regulators, and news reports of those cases in established newspapers, and we link every source with its date. We rank scams by how often and how recently they are reported. We explain how to recognise, avoid and report a scam, never how to carry one out, and we never call a company or a person a scammer unless an official source does.
If it is happening right now
If you are being pressured to pay or share a code right now, stop, hang up and call your bank on the number on your card. If you are in danger, call the emergency number for your country, which is 999 in the UAE.
Questions about our scam alerts
Where does the information in these guides come from?
From police forces, ministries, central banks and regulators, and from established newspapers reporting their cases and warnings. Every guide lists its numbered sources with dates.
Which countries do you cover?
The UAE (Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah), Saudi Arabia (Riyadh, Makkah and Jeddah, Madinah, the Eastern Province), Qatar (Doha and the other municipalities), Oman (Muscat, Salalah and Dhofar, Sohar, Nizwa and the other governorates), Kuwait (Kuwait City and the Capital, Hawalli, Farwaniya, Ahmadi, Jahra and Mubarak Al-Kabeer), Bahrain (Manama and the Capital, Muharraq, the Northern and Southern governorates), India (Telangana and Hyderabad, Karnataka and Bengaluru, Maharashtra and Mumbai, Delhi, Kerala) Pakistan (Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad and Rawalpindi, Faisalabad and Multan, Peshawar) Bangladesh (Dhaka, Chattogram and Cox's Bazar, Sylhet, Faridpur, Rajshahi and other districts) and Nepal (the Kathmandu valley, Pokhara and Kaski, Dhading, Makwanpur, Chitwan and other districts) so far. Other countries our readers come from follow.
Do you name scammers?
No, unless an official body has named them publicly. Our aim is to help you recognise a scam, not to accuse anyone.
Can you help me get my money back?
No. Contact your bank and the police at once. Be careful of anyone who offers to recover money for a fee.
How often are the alerts updated?
We add one alert at a time and update existing alerts when the police or a regulator publishes a new warning. Each page shows the date its facts were last checked.