KUWAIT CITY, Jul 16: A timeshare company operating in Kuwait is defrauding Asian middle-class families through a deceptive scheme. They have a small office in Hawally and a main office in Kuwait City. Initially, the company distributes coupons in shopping mall parking lots, asking people to fill in their information. After a week or more, participants are contacted via phone call or WhatsApp and told they have won a raffle draw among 200 participants. They are then invited to the office to collect their prize: a 5 KD voucher and a four-night stay in a five-star hotel.

To claim the prize, participants must come as a couple, primarily targeting families from India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Pakistan. Upon arrival, the company entices them with offers such as a 35-day package for stays in five-star hotels in 175 countries, a one-year gym package for couples, summer camps for kids, free dinner nights at five-star hotels, party arrangements, free tour guides, discounts, and free transportation in the host country, among other benefits. These packages range from KD 250 onwards.

However, once the participants pay, the company's response slows dramatically, requiring numerous follow-ups to receive any promised benefits. Victims eventually realize they have been scammed, this company previously executed similar schemes in Dubai and Qatar, earning millions before disappearing.

In Qatar, 23 Indian nationals filed a complaint with the Indian Embassy, which documented the victims' names in a letter to the Director General of Police in Telangana (No. DOH/CW/415/11/2023). The complaint names Adil Muhammad as the main accused, along with other staff members Vicky, Chirag, Sham, Hanah, Zaid, Priya, Joseph, Arafat, and Kiran, who are also mentioned in the report. As per sources this same company has relocated to Kuwait and operating with a different name.

This fraudulent operation poses a significant threat to the community, particularly targeting vulnerable middle-class families from South Asia. Arab Times and Al Seyassah have been consistently reporting on various scams targeting people, and this timeshare scheme is one of the latest frauds that people need to be aware of.