JEDDAH: With just days left for Haj to begin, fraudsters are seen making tempting offers online for those wishing to perform the pilgrimage illegally, despite stern warnings by the authorities concerned.

Offers such as “Hire someone to perform Haj for a fee of SR500-800” and “Two-day package for SR2,000” look tempting, but are fraught with risks, a local publication reported on Thursday.

Some unscrupulous elements are demanding a portion of the “Haj fee” as advance to make it look genuine, but disappear after obtaining the full amount, the publication said, quoting sources.

According to another advertisement, a “two-day Haj campaign without permit will cover transport from Riyadh to Makkah and housing for one day, for a fee of SR2,000 per person.

In addition to these “services,” pilgrims are guaranteed they can “arrive safely without the risk of being arrested.”

Some are offering “permits” for SR2,000 for small and medium-sized cars to enter the holy sites and SR2,500 for buses. Legally, Haj permits cannot be bought or sold by a third party. This explains it all.