A Saudi national has been convicted to five years in jail after being found guilty of masterminding a large-scale internet scam that swindled 41 unsuspecting victims, officials confirmed. The offender took advantage of online platforms by placing false product advertisements, enticing buyers with good offers and then vanishing after collecting payments.
The scammer, the prosecution claims, used various accounts and communication channels to gain buyers’ trust. Once paid, he would shut down all forms of communication, and victims were left with nothing or any means of getting back their money.
The probe uncovered a pattern of deception using a range of high-demand consumer goods. Victims were from across the Kingdom, most of whom had no means of tracing the seller since contact information was provided falsely and anonymous payment modes were used.
Authorities stressed that the court’s verdict is a strong warning to online scammers and reminds consumers of the need for consumer vigilance while making online purchases. The Ministry of Interior also called on citizens to make use of only authentic platforms and safe payment options in order to escape being victims of such attempts.
