I do not know for how long we will remain a profitable market for fraudsters, Saudi and otherwise. I remember writing about this recently when the gold scam in Jeddah was unrevealed. I instantly received a message from one of the victims of the famous Sawa scam who said I was gloating and prayed to Allah that I would face the same fate.
I would like to say that I was not gloating but warning people not to fall into the trap of fraudsters. I was surprised at the negligence of some people — even though they have read about scams in newspapers that have been in court for many years they still commit the same mistakes.
The reader’s supplication, however, was answered several years before I wrote that article. It did not exactly happen to me but to some of my relatives who asked me to also invest in the Sawa scam and showed me evidence of the weekly profits they were earning. I resisted and warned my relatives not to go ahead. They laughed and accused me of missing an excellent opportunity to make quick money. Although some of them were successful the majority are still biting their fingernails in regret.
I am not gloating when I say that I am surprised that some people simply do not use their minds. How could anyone believe that SR100,000 can be multiplied into SR1 million in a closed room following a prayer? Who would be dumb enough to buy or rent an apartment on paper just because the man who is making the offer looks trustworthy? Ironically, one of the victims asked where the police were to help these stupid people? What does he expect the answer to be?
These scammers are not very bright and do not have supernatural powers. They only look bright when surrounded by stupid people. I repeat I am not gloating but lamenting that some people are not using their minds to protect themselves.
— Author can be contacted at [email protected]
