The Royal Oman Police (ROP) has revealed a 50 percent rise in cyber financial fraud cases during the first half of 2025 compared to the same period last year, according to Oman News Agency. The increase is being attributed to the rapid advancement of technology, electronic payment systems, and the widespread use of digital platforms.
Brigadier Jamal bin Habib Al Quraishi, Director General of Criminal Investigation and Research at the ROP, highlighted the growing sophistication of online crimes driven by artificial intelligence (AI), deepfake technology, and digital manipulation tools. He warned that cybercriminals are increasingly impersonating real individuals to exploit trust and extract financial data.
Among the most common scams are fake online marketplaces and e-commerce listings offering goods at unrealistically low prices, where victims pay deposits before scammers disappear. Other tactics include deepfake impersonations of government employees during video calls and spoofed websites that mimic official portals to steal user credentials and one-time passwords.
Once obtained, stolen funds are quickly laundered through complex banking and cryptocurrency networks, often transferred abroad within minutes. Fraudsters are also using fake “job duty” offers to recruit individuals into unknowingly opening bank accounts later used for money laundering, leaving them legally exposed.
In response, the ROP is intensifying its crackdown on fraudulent sites, collaborating with telecom operators and local banks to freeze compromised accounts and block scam-related phone numbers. Awareness efforts are also being expanded through digital campaigns, school programs, and public outreach initiatives aimed at strengthening digital vigilance.
