KUWAIT CITY, Jan 27: A recent wave of fraud that has emerged is reminiscent of the notorious ‘real estate fraud’ cases that caused an estimated 890 million dinars in losses, as reported by the Audit Bureau. This time, the Al-Seyassah daily, says the victims are women whose citizenship was revoked under Article 8 of the former Nationality Law.
Fraudulent advertisements have surfaced on social media, offering false promises of restoring revoked citizenship or facilitating asylum applications to Western countries in exchange for money. Following the Cabinet’s decision to revoke the citizenship of naturalized Kuwaiti wives, scammers began targeting these women through social media ads. The promoters claim they can restore citizenship or file asylum applications for sums as high as 10,000 dinars. Legal experts have issued warnings about these fraudulent schemes, emphasizing that victims often struggle to recover money paid to these scammers.

Lawyer Salah Al-Alaj highlighted the Ministry of Interior’s announcement of mechanisms to ensure a dignified life for affected women, treating them as Kuwaiti citizens despite the revocation. He cautioned against falling for fraudulent claims, stating, “Restoring citizenship is a right solely vested in His Highness the Amir.” Al-Alaj also warned about advertisements offering asylum in the UK, urging women to avoid being deceived by such scams. Dr. Faisal Al-Otaibi advised women to follow the official complaint procedures outlined by the Ministry of Interior, emphasizing that such decisions are handled carefully to avoid injustice. He warned against trusting fictitious individuals or companies, stating, “The law does not protect the fool.”

Al-Otaibi called on authorities to monitor and block these misleading advertisements from circulating online. Attorney Abdul Mohsen Al-Qattan explained that while there is no judicial route to appeal citizenship revocations due to their classification as sovereign decisions, affected individuals can file grievances with the Minister of Interior or submit a memorandum to His Highness the Amir. He emphasized the importance of providing strong evidence to demonstrate that a revocation decision was arbitrary or based on incorrect information.

Legal experts have urged government agencies to take action against these fraudulent advertisements, blocking their spread on social media platforms. They also emphasized the need to raise public awareness about the official avenues for addressing grievances and protecting individuals from exploitation. This troubling trend highlights the urgency of cracking down on fraudsters preying on vulnerable individuals, particularly women seeking to reclaim their rights. It underscores the need for vigilance, accountability and robust legal safeguards to prevent such exploitation.