JEDDAH, 16 October 2006 — An Arab expatriate defrauded more than 100 businessmen in Jeddah, Riyadh and the Eastern Province for about SR7 million.
The Arab resident, a private company employee, pretended to be an assistant professor at King Abdul Aziz University in Jeddah. He then made some fake business cards that included a prepaid ‘Sawa’ mobile phone number that had been bought on the black market without the need for producing an official ID.
The man was reportedly approaching different people in different cities, either at work or their homes, and allegedly pretended to have a problem such as his mother being ill and that he needed an unaffordable sum of money for her treatment. Some of those whom he approached offered sums reaching SR100,000.
The man was arrested after police received complaints and proof of the alleged fraud. The man admitted that his intent was to collect money for investment when he returns to his country. Once his official documents are confirmed the man will be transferred to court for sentencing.
Security officials, in collaboration with all governmental circles, have launched an awareness campaign to limit embezzlement operations in all their forms, especially the ones involving bouncing checks.
