Fake Police Scams in Saudi Arabia
How fraudsters impersonating Saudi authorities intimidate residents into transferring money or revealing account details.
Part of: Fake Police Scams
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
Fake authority scams impersonating Saudi police, the Zakat Tax and Customs Authority (ZATCA), or Ministry of Interior officials are a serious fraud category in the Kingdom. Callers convince victims that their bank accounts are under investigation, that they owe outstanding fines, or that a family member has been arrested — each scenario designed to induce panic and immediate compliance.
The combination of respected authority figures and real-sounding case reference numbers makes these calls highly convincing. Caller ID spoofing allows numbers to appear as genuine government lines, and the scammers are trained to use bureaucratic language that sounds official.
How this scam works on Saudi Arabia
The most common Saudi variant involves a call claiming to be from ZATCA, informing the recipient that their business or personal tax account shows a large outstanding liability that must be paid immediately to avoid criminal proceedings. A 'case number' is provided and the victim is given a bank account number described as the official government collection account.
Another common variant targets expatriates: a caller claiming to be from the General Directorate of Passports threatens visa revocation unless an 'overstay fine' is paid immediately. Expatriates' concerns about visa status make this particularly effective.
All Saudi government agencies have formal, documented processes for collecting payments — none involve cold calls directing recipients to transfer money immediately.
Common red flags
- Unsolicited call about an urgent fine, tax debt, or arrest warrant that you had no prior notification of
- Caller instructs you to transfer money immediately to an account described as government-owned
- Pressure not to hang up or verify through official channels independently
- Request for bank login credentials or OTP codes over the phone
- Caller becomes aggressive or threatening if you express doubt
How to protect yourself
- Know that Saudi government agencies use formal notification letters, the Absher portal, or official SMS channels — not cold payment calls
- Hang up and verify any claim by calling the relevant agency directly using numbers from its official website
- Never provide OTP codes or banking details over an inbound phone call
- Alert family members, especially elderly relatives and recent expatriates, to this fraud pattern
How to report it
- Report the call to the Saudi Anti-Cybercrime Unit (1909) with the caller number and details
- Notify ZATCA's official fraud line if the ZATCA brand was impersonated
- Contact your bank immediately if any transfer was made — request an urgent recall and fraud investigation
Frequently asked questions
How does the Saudi government actually notify citizens of fines or outstanding taxes?
Saudi government agencies use formal registered letters, official SMS from short codes listed on government websites, and the Absher digital identity portal. If you receive a cold call about a debt, hang up and log into Absher yourself to check your actual status. Any genuine outstanding matter will appear there with official documentation.