With every pilgrimage season, the problems of imaginary pilgrimage campaign scammers resurface, repeated attempts every year by weak-minded people in the pilgrimage season to drop the victims in the ropes of fraud and fraud; Allegedly providing Hajj services and organizing campaigns for pilgrims, setting up their nets on those who want irregular pilgrimages.
These attempts are monitored by the eyes of the security men and their practitioners fall, but the biggest deterrent to them is the awareness of the citizen and the resident by reporting the owners of fake Hajj campaigns, which are handled by offices of campaigns not registered on the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah website, which receive the amounts in cash, which is contrary to the system of the Ministry of Hajj, which requires It is automatically paid through a unified system to prevent tampering and achieve security.
Fraud offices suddenly appear during the Hajj season, through small groups that promote their activities to those who wish to perform Hajj, out of sight, by offering offers at attractively reduced prices, which contribute to the fall of victims and those who face different scenarios, as they are between being thrown at the start of the Hajj season on the outskirts of the capital. The sanctuary without entering it due to the presence of security control over its entrances, or between the disappearance of those offices and those in them, and it turns out that the documents are forged and there are no official offices or dealings with the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah.
Early scenario and security monitoring
The scenario of the emergence of fake Hajj campaigns appeared early this year, and was monitored by the security services, so the General Security announced the arrest of a group of people; For committing criminal incidents represented in advertising and marketing fake Hajj campaigns in Riyadh and Qassim.
And the General Security indicated that a citizen and 27 violators of the residence and work systems were arrested, including 11 of Egyptian nationality, 10 of Syrian nationality, two of Pakistani nationality, others of Sudanese nationality, and others of Yemeni and Bangladeshi nationalities, who advertised and marketed fake Hajj campaigns in 4 locations. in the Riyadh region, and two locations in the Qassim region, and to seize sums of money from their victims.
He confirmed that they were arrested, regular measures were taken, and they were referred to the Public Prosecution.
In a security operation in Riyadh, the security authorities arrested two residents who were running fake Hajj campaigns. The district police stated that they were able to seize two Pakistani residents who violated the residency system, who run two sites for fake Hajj campaigns in the city of Riyadh, and they were seized with receipt vouchers and sums of money, and they were arrested and regular measures were taken against them, and they were referred to the Public Prosecution.
Security: We monitor fraudulent advertisements
The official spokesman for the Public Security, Brigadier General Sami Al-Shuwairekh, warned citizens and residents who submitted their wishes to perform the Hajj rituals for the year 1443 AH via the website of the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, and the Umrahna application, against responding to or dealing with the fake Hajj campaigns. Brigadier General Al-Showirikh confirmed that the security authorities are following up the published advertisements aimed at defrauding those wishing to perform Hajj, and the penalties prescribed by law will be applied against those in charge of them, urging adherence to and adherence to what was stated in the regular registration mechanism announced by the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah in this year’s Hajj via the electronic track and the application We performed Umrah, as it is the only legal method in which the nomination processes are automatically accepted, and through which regular Hajj companies can be viewed and selected.
Al-Hajj: We detected fake accounts for fraud
The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has warned of fake accounts and people claiming to provide Hajj services and options as part of violating campaigns at low prices, stressing that applying for Hajj from within the Kingdom is for citizens and residents through the “Umrahna” application. The Ministry revealed that it has monitored many fake accounts and misleading contact numbers for people claiming to provide Hajj services, and requesting personal data and official documents for people, stressing that all citizens and residents should not be led by undocumented advertisements that have no official status on social media, and to report immediately. For any office, company, or person claiming to provide permits to perform the rituals of Hajj for the year 1443 AH.
And “Hajj” confirmed that the electronic portal for domestic pilgrims – which the Ministry has designated to receive requests from citizens and residents for this year – is the only outlet for booking the services of authorized domestic pilgrims companies and institutions, with the aim of achieving transparency, ensuring supervision and monitoring processes and applying all health and precautionary measures related to the Corona virus.
And the registration via the electronic path for domestic pilgrims continued until the end of the 13th Saturday of Dhu al-Qi`dah, so that the results of sorting would be announced after the deadline expired, and the monitoring and follow-up committees in the Ministry would follow up on all violations and unauthorized campaigns, and regular measures would be taken in cooperation with the security authorities against the violators.
“Prosecution”: criminal accountability for those involved
The Public Prosecution revealed behaviors that require criminal accountability, related to the crimes of the imaginary Hajj campaigns. And the “Prosecution” said: “Financial fraud through imaginary Hajj campaigns is one of the major crimes that necessitates arrest and criminal accountability, according to Paragraph No. (8/First) of Ministerial Resolution No. 3000 dated 6/10/1435 AH, specified For major crimes requiring arrest.
The Public Prosecution stressed the need for all citizens and residents to be aware of the behaviors that lead to criminal accountability related to the crimes of the imaginary Hajj campaigns.
She indicated that criminal accountability includes all those who contributed and participated in these crimes through agreement, incitement or assistance.
The Public Prosecution warned against any fraudulent behavior in the matter of Hajj campaigns, and what may accompany that from creating fake electronic links in this regard to unlawfully seize the money of others, stressing that the electronic path through the platform of the competent authority is the official channel for that only.
7 years imprisonment and a 5 million fine
The legal advisor, Saif Ahmed Al-Hakami, confirmed, saying: The regulations have prohibited all fraudulent practices with the intent to seize the money of others, including in the matter of Hajj campaigns, regardless of their style, character, and method of commission, and this is a major crime that requires arrest.
He said, “According to what was stipulated in Article 1 of the Financial Fraud and Breach of Trust Law, appropriating the money of others by deceiving them, lying to them, or deluding them into imaginary Hajj campaigns is a crime of financial fraud. years, and a fine of 5 million riyals.
Al-Hakami stressed that he is considered a contributor to the commission of financial fraud crimes, the original perpetrator and the partner in it, through incitement, agreement, or assistance, and the responsibility of the partner is available whether his contact with the perpetrator is direct or indirect.
And he indicated that the penalty for anyone who incites others to commit any of the financial fraud crimes or agrees with him or assists him if the crime occurs based on this incitement, agreement or assistance is imprisonment for a period of up to seven years with the confiscation of the tools and machines used in the crime as well as the proceeds achieved from committing it in addition A fine of up to five million riyals, and also the publication of the judgment issued at the expense of the convict after he has acquired the final character.
“Coordination”: We warn of suspicious communications
The Coordinating Council of Institutions and Companies Serving Domestic Pilgrims warned of suspicious communications received by pilgrims; To avoid falling into scams.
The Council called on the pilgrims to ensure that they log on to the link of the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah or the official means of communication, stressing that the pilgrim should not share his personal information or bank data in the event of suspicious contacts.
Ibrahim Al-Alawi (Jeddah) @i_waleeed22
