Fake Online Store Scams in Kuwait
Fraudulent Snapchat and Instagram shops in Kuwait offer discounted electronics, luxury goods, and branded items that are never delivered after payment.
Part of: Fake Online Stores
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
Social commerce — particularly through Snapchat, which has among the highest penetration rates globally in Kuwait — has made Kuwait a prime market for fake online store fraud. Fraudulent operators post compelling product photography on Snapchat stories and Instagram, attract buyers, and then collect payment without shipping anything.
Kuwait's high purchasing power and appetite for international brands mean average transaction values are relatively high, increasing the losses per victim.
How this scam works on Kuwait
A Snapchat or Instagram account posts attractive product images — often discounted electronics, branded clothing, or imported cosmetics — and prices significantly below retail. Buyers are instructed to pay via bank transfer to a personal account or through an informal money exchange before delivery.
After payment, the seller initially stays in contact, citing delivery delays. Communication then stops, and the account disappears or blocks the buyer. Some operators send a low-value substitute to prevent an immediate clear-cut fraud report.
Kuwait's high proportion of online shoppers and willingness to transact via social media direct message makes this scheme particularly effective.
Common red flags
- Prices dramatically below established Kuwait retailers for the same branded items
- No verifiable Commercial Registration number
- Full payment required via personal account before any delivery
- Contact only through Snapchat or Instagram DM, no landline or physical store
- Delivery tracking link leads to a generic or non-updating page
- Account created recently with no review history outside its own posts
How to protect yourself
- Use credit cards or buyer-protected payment platforms for social media purchases
- Verify the seller's commercial registration with the Ministry of Commerce and Industry Kuwait
- Prefer established platforms with dispute resolution over individual social media sellers
- Insist on cash on delivery for high-value purchases from unknown sellers
- Search the account name with 'scam Kuwait' before buying
How to report it
- Report to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry Kuwait
- File a complaint with the Ministry of Interior CID
- Report the Snapchat or Instagram account to the platform directly
Frequently asked questions
The seller offered to show me the item on a video call before I paid. Is that enough reassurance?
A video of an item in someone else's hands is not proof they will ship the same item to you. Insist on cash on delivery or use a trusted escrow service for significant purchases.