A caller who appeared to know personal details about a resident’s family plans allegedly used that information to gain his trust, turning a routine visa-related conversation into an online fraud that left his bank balance almost empty.
The Lebanese resident fell victim to the scam after an unknown caller contacted him last Tuesday morning, claiming there was a problem with his parents’ visit visa application to Kuwait. The caller reportedly knew the resident’s occupation and asked whether he was arranging a visit for his parents. When the resident confirmed, the caller claimed the application had been rejected because his biometric fingerprints were outdated.
The caller then offered what appeared to be a solution, saying an authentication request would be sent through the “My Identity” app to arrange an appointment to update the fingerprints. Believing the request was connected to an official procedure, the resident approved it. The consequences became apparent within minutes, when he began receiving messages showing 25 dinars had been withdrawn from his bank account.
When he tried to access his account, he discovered that his password had been changed. After regaining access, he found that only 900 fils remained in the account. The resident said he had not shared any banking information or verification code with the caller. When he contacted his bank to investigate the transactions, he was informed that he had fallen victim to fraud.
What made the incident particularly alarming, according to the resident, was the caller’s apparent knowledge of his employment and the details of his parents planned visit. That information made the conversation appear credible and strengthened his belief that he was dealing with someone connected to a legitimate transaction.
The incident highlights how fraudsters can exploit personal information and the appearance of official procedures to persuade victims to approve digital authentication requests. Instead of relying solely on suspicious links, such schemes can use a convincing story and carefully timed requests to gain a victim’s cooperation.
The reported case underlines the importance of treating unexpected digital requests with caution, even when a caller appears familiar with personal circumstances. Any claim involving a visa application, biometric update or official authentication should be independently verified through the relevant authority before a request is approved.