KUWAIT CITY, July 21: Along with the recent global glitch known as the “blue screen of death”, experts have raised alarms about the increasing number of victims falling prey to electronic fraud, hackers, and fake brokers. According to a professor of Information Technology at Kuwait University and Head of the Kuwait Society for Information Security Safaa Al- Zaman, the number of fake broker companies in Kuwait is increasing. These companies adopt misleading tactics to convince victims to engage in trading in capital markets and real estate. She revealed that the number of banking fraud victims among citizens and residents has reached 200,000 over four years, disclosing that she fell victim to electronic fraud. Al-Zaman recounted being informed by a fellow citizen of losing KD 300,000 to a fake trading company.

She said she wondered how these fraudulent companies manage to operate from well-known complexes in Kuwait and use names and labels similar to trusted companies, with slight alterations to deceive clients. Al-Zaman warned individuals that these companies employ non-Kuwaiti workers who are fluent in Kuwaiti dialect to promise gains exceeding 100 percent of the capital.

She expressed dismay that some local banks facilitate money transfers abroad through applications, which fraudsters could exploit. Al-Zaman indicated that fraud companies might exploit a bank’s identity, hack its email, and reroute victims’ funds to themselves instead of the intended bank account. Meanwhile, Bader Al-Khudhari, an Information Technology professor at the Public Authority for Applied Education and Training (PAAET), highlighted a rise in the number of fake broker companies, indicating that the elderly, less educated are particularly vulnerable. He expressed astonishment over reports that the number of fraud crimes in Kuwait reached 128,000 during the period between 2020 and 2022.

Al-Khudhari wondered what action was taken by regulatory institutions in response to these figures. He stressed the importance of communication companies to strengthen regulations on SIM card purchases to help safeguard the public. ShafiAl-Ajmi, CEO of Kuwait Petroleum International (KPI), is actively overseeing the company’s branches across Europe and Asia, as well as its global investments, to assess the impact of the recent global technical failure. The monitoring and follow-up process has affirmed that KPI’s operations remain unaffected. According to sources speaking to Al-Seyassah, all of the company’s international fuel stations continued to operate normally without any interruptions.

The company’s supply lines for jet fuel, crucial for global air navigation, remained stable despite the widespread technical disruptions. Furthermore, the crisis also affected KPI’s investment in the Italian company Ecofox, which specializes in manufacturing organic fuel. This underscores KPI’s resilience and effective management in maintaining its business operations amidst global challenges. Sheikh Khaled Ahmad Al-Sabah, Acting CEO of the Kuwait Oil Tanker Company, has assured that the company’s tankers are continuing their global voyages uninterrupted despite the recent global technical glitch, reports Al-Seyassah daily.

In a press statement, Sheikh Khaled Al-Sabah confirmed that the company’s operations remain normal, thanks to established precautionary measures designed for such scenarios. He emphasized that the company is maintaining a close watch on operations and conducting continuous risk assessments to navigate these emergency circumstances effectively. Ahmad Al-Kreibani, CEO of Kuwait Airways, has confirmed that the airline’s systems are functioning normally and without interruption around the clock. The airline has ensured continuous communication with passengers, external stations, and security sectors to guarantee the safety of both passengers and aircraft, reports Al-Seyassah daily.

In a recent press statement, Al- Kreibani highlighted the swift actions taken by the Cyber Security Sector and the Information Technology Department at Kuwait Airways. They implemented necessary measures to quickly isolate any affected systems, demonstrating the airline’s commitment to maintaining uninterrupted operations and providing seamless services to its customers. Al-Kreibani also noted that maintenance and monitoring of the company’s internal systems, including operational systems and passenger acceptance systems at Terminal (T4), are ongoing. This proactive approach underscores Kuwait Airways’ dedication to ensuring that its services remain reliable and efficient despite the global technical disruptions affecting various sectors

By Najeh Bilal
Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff and Agencies