5 Held in Riyadh for Online Rental Scam Targeting Social Media Users

Dubai: Riyadh Police have arrested five individuals -- four Syrian nationals and one Saudi citizen -- for allegedly running a fraudulent rental scheme through social media platforms, according to the Arabic daily Okaz.

 

The Criminal Investigations and Intelligence Division reported that the group posted fake advertisements for residential properties, aiming to deceive and extract money from unsuspecting victims. The scam was reportedly carried out in coordination with accomplices operating from outside Saudi Arabia.

 

The suspects allegedly tricked victims into transferring funds for rental deposits on properties that either did not exist or were never actually available. The fraud came to light after several complaints were filed by people who had fallen prey to the scam.

 

All five suspects have been taken into custody and referred to the Public Prosecution for further investigation. The arrests are part of Saudi Arabia’s wider efforts to tackle cyber fraud and safeguard the public from online scams.

 

Authorities have advised residents to exercise caution when dealing with online rental listings and to verify property details through official channels.

 

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