Oman Scams: Tourist, Online & Investment Fraud Guide
Common scams in Oman including cyber fraud, investment schemes, and tourist-area overcharging, with official reporting channels via the Royal Oman Police.
Emergency number: 9999 (emergency), 80077444 (cyber fraud hotline) — verify on official sources.
Last reviewed: 1 August 2026
Oman has seen cybercrime increase markedly in recent years, and the Royal Oman Police issues regular warnings about the dominant patterns. The workhorse is OTP-harvesting: texts and calls impersonating Bank Muscat, the National Bank of Oman or government services claim a card must be 'updated', a parcel cleared, or a fine paid, and steer victims to fake payment pages or simply ask for the one-time code outright. Calls now increasingly use AI voice cloning to impersonate relatives in distress or officials demanding urgent transfers, and deepfaked video of public figures fronts fraudulent investment ads on social media.
Oman's large expatriate workforce is targeted with its own repertoire: fake job offers and work-visa 'agents' charging fees for non-existent placements, fraudulent domestic-worker recruitment offices, and overpayment scams against workers selling belongings before leaving. Residents encounter WhatsApp investment groups pushing fake forex and crypto platforms, fake charity appeals that intensify around Ramadan, and social-media shops that collect payment and disappear. Tourists visiting Muscat, Nizwa and the interior may also meet overcharging tour operators and unofficial guides, though street-level fraud remains modest by regional standards.
The Royal Oman Police operates a dedicated toll-free cyber fraud hotline (80077444) around the clock and an e-crime reporting platform, and can liaise with banks to freeze fraudulent transfers — which makes the first hour after a scam the one that decides whether money comes back.
Common scams
- Investment and crypto fraud promoted via social media
- AI and deepfake-assisted impersonation scams
- Phishing targeting Omani bank accounts (Bank Muscat, National Bank of Oman)
- Online shopping fraud and non-delivery
Tourist-specific scams
- Unofficial guides at Muscat and Nizwa heritage sites
- Overcharging taxi and transport operators
- Fake or substandard souvenir goods
Online shopping scams
- Phishing emails and SMS impersonating Omani banks
- Fake e-commerce sites targeting residents
- AI deepfake voice and video calls impersonating officials or family members
Job scams
- Fake overseas employment offers requiring upfront visa fees
- Fraudulent domestic worker recruitment agencies
- Task scams via WhatsApp and Telegram escalating into deposit demands
Romance scams
- Dating-app relationships escalating to financial or investment requests
- Social media romance fraud from overseas contacts
- Blackmail after exchanged images ('sextortion') targeting residents and expats
Investment scams
- Fake forex and crypto platforms advertising on social media
- Ponzi-style investment schemes disguised as legitimate businesses
- Deepfaked public figures fronting fraudulent trading advertisements
How to report a scam here
- If money was just transferred, contact your bank immediately to attempt a freeze
- Call the Royal Oman Police cyber fraud hotline 80077444 (toll-free) at any time
- File a formal report at the nearest Royal Oman Police station or via rop.gov.om
- Preserve all evidence — screenshots, chat logs, transaction references — before reporting
Local reporting & protection links
Always verify reporting routes and emergency contacts on the official government or agency website for your country.
Bank & payment guidance
Two calls matter, and both should happen now. Contact your bank on the number on your card or in its app, say you were deceived into authorising the payment, and ask for it to be stopped or recalled and the receiving account reported. If you read out an OTP or entered card details on a fake page, say so explicitly and have the card blocked before the fraudster completes the transaction. Then call the Royal Oman Police cyber fraud hotline 80077444, which is toll-free, available around the clock, and can liaise with banks to help freeze fraudulent transfers. Keep the reference numbers, transaction details and chat logs for a formal report at rop.gov.om; expatriates paid through foreign accounts should also alert their home bank and card issuer about chargebacks.
Evidence to preserve
- Screenshot all messages, profiles, websites and payment pages
- Save transaction references, account numbers and crypto wallet addresses
- Keep emails with full headers where possible
- Note dates, times, names and phone numbers used
Frequently asked questions
What is the Royal Oman Police cyber fraud hotline?
The Royal Oman Police operates a dedicated toll-free cyber fraud hotline at 80077444. It is available around the clock for reporting cyber extortion, online fraud, and other digital crimes, and can liaise with banks to help freeze fraudulent transfers.
How do deepfake scams appear in Oman?
Two ways: AI-cloned voices impersonating relatives or officials in urgent phone calls demanding transfers, and deepfaked video of well-known figures fronting investment ads on social media. Verify any urgent money request through a channel you already trust, and treat every social-media investment advertisement as fraudulent until proven otherwise on the regulator's own register.
What should expat workers in Oman watch for?
Fake job offers and visa 'agents' charging upfront fees, recruitment offices that vanish after collecting payments, and overpayment scams when selling cars or furniture before leaving the country. Legitimate employers do not charge candidates for placement, and cheques or transfers 'accidentally' sent for too much are the opening move of a refund scam.
Sources
- National police and cybercrime portals (verify on official sites)
- FTC / Action Fraud / Scamwatch consumer guidance