Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Interior has issued urgent warnings to the public about electronic fraud targeting users of the country's Absher platform. The warning follows reports of fake text messages being sent to users' phones, which falsely claim to be from Absher. This is particularly concerning as the messages are crafted with the intention of tricking users, leading to potential theft of their personal and sensitive financial information.
Absher, the well-known digital service platform managed by the Ministry of Interior, has confirmed the legitimacy of these concerns, indicating clearly, "These messages are completely fake and do not come from the official entity." Users are cautioned not to click on suspicious links, especially those bearing Absher's name.
The Ministry emphasized the importance of using the official Absher website, Absher.sa, as the sole portal for accessing electronic services and official information. Users should avoid any and all other links contained within the dubious messages.
According to the reports, these fraudulent messages are sent randomly to users' phone numbers with the goal of hacking personal data and stealing personal and financial information. Only by relying on the official site can users protect themselves from such scams.
To combat these increasing threats, Absher encourages users to adopt several precautionary measures to safeguard their information:
- Do not interact with any suspicious message claiming to be from Absher; make sure all services are conducted through the official site only.
- Avoid clicking on unfamiliar links sent via text or email, even if they appear to relate to Absher.
- Never share personal or login details with unofficial entities; always input your data solely through the official platform.
- Verify links before submitting any sensitive information by checking if the site address begins with "https://www.absher.sa."
- Report any suspicious messages to the appropriate cybersecurity channels to help combat fraud and data breaches.
Absher is actively tracking all fraudulent attempts targeting users, working closely with relevant authorities to curb these criminal activities. They have outlined their commitment to protecting user data and ensuring the security of electronic transactions carried out on their platform.
Alongside this warning, it’s worth noting the expansive range of services offered by Absher. The platform plays a pivotal role as one of the key online government resources for Saudi citizens, residents, and visitors, providing over 330 electronic services aimed at streamlining government transactions without necessitating physical presence at government offices.
Recently, Absher introduced more than ten direct services available without requiring users to log in to their personal accounts. These included:
- Appointment bookings for obtaining driver’s licenses.
- Scheduling appointments at civil affairs offices.
- Booking appointments with the General Directorate of Passports.
- Viewing accredited centers for vehicle drop-offs.
- Engaging with online vehicle plate auctions.
- Retrieving names for users visiting the platform without prior accounts.
- Accessing digital visitor cards.
- Checking border numbers.
- Consulting traffic violations for visitors.
- Investigations for Hajj permit inquiries.
- Verifying academic degrees along with birth and death certificates.
- Checking the status of objections concerning travel bans.
The introduction of these services simplifies users' experiences by eliminating the need for logging in, which is especially significant for visitors or those not yet fully registered. It demonstrates Absher's commitment to enhancing user accessibility and convenience.
With the digital age continuing to evolve, electronic scams pose one of the largest threats to users worldwide. The sharp increase of scams and fraud attempts emphasizes the urgency for everyone to remain vigilant and to verify the authenticity of communications received. Absher reinforces the need for careful engagement and stresses the responsibility each user bears when it involves their private data.
By being proactive and informed, citizens can help guard against identity theft and scams, ensuring themselves, their financial information, and personal data remain uncompromised amid rising digital threats.