Kuwait Finance House warns against messages impersonating official entities

As part of its efforts to support the “Let’s Be Aware” campaign, Kuwait Finance House (KFH) warned against fraud attempts circulated via text or electronic messages that impersonate official government bodies and agencies. These messages falsely claim that recipients have outstanding fines or violations and demand payment through links included in the messages.

The bank urged customers to ignore such messages, refrain from clicking on any links contained therein, and avoid entering any personal or financial information on these fraudulent websites.

KFH noted that fraudulent operations are continuously evolving and increasingly rely on sophisticated methods to trap victims by creating a sense of pressure and urgency, prompting them to act without verification. This is often achieved by demanding payment of fines within a specified deadline, accompanied by threats of legal and administrative action in case of delayed payment.

Fraudulent messages also contain suspicious links designed to direct victims to fake websites intended to steal personal data and financial account information for the benefit of criminal gangs, most of which operate outside Kuwait.

KFH emphasized that awareness and vigilance remain the first line of defense against cyber fraud, despite the continuous evolution of fraudulent tactics. The bank called on customers and the general public to exercise caution, report any suspicious messages, and never share banking or personal information under any circumstances.

The bank highlighted its commitment to continuing its role in enhancing financial and digital literacy among customers and the community, in line with its responsibility to protect customers and help them identify evolving fraud methods. KFH also confirmed that fraudsters sometimes exploit the names and logos of trusted entities to lend an air of legitimacy to their messages. Therefore, verifying the source of a message and avoiding suspicious links are essential steps to prevent falling victim to fraud.

KFH stressed the importance of combating fraud by increasing financial awareness and vigilance, and refraining from sharing any sensitive information related to personal identification cards, one-time passwords, or bank card PINs, whether via phone, email, or any other means. The bank reaffirmed that it never asks customers to share or update their financial information via phone calls, emails, or text messages.

The bank continues its efforts to raise awareness across all segments of society by disseminating financial literacy materials and leveraging all its digital channels and social media platforms to deliver a wide range of educational content. This content has garnered significant engagement due to its high quality and clear explanations of KFH’s advanced services and products.