12 Sentenced in Benefit Pay Fraud Scheme

TDT | Manama
Email : editor@newsofbahrain.com

The High Criminal Court has sentenced 12 individuals to imprisonment for orchestrating a fraud scheme targeting victims through the Benefit Pay mobile payment application. The gang's activities resulted in significant financial losses, including 468 Bahraini dinars stolen from a ministry employee.

The Public Prosecution charged the group with conspiracy and aiding unidentified individuals in exploiting electronic signatures to unlawfully access victims' bank accounts. The scheme involved obtaining verification codes under false pretenses and using them to transfer funds from victims' accounts.

One of the victims, a female ministry employee, recounted her experience during court proceedings. She revealed that an individual, claiming to be a bank representative, contacted her to "update her banking information." Believing the caller was legitimate, she provided her verification code. Shortly afterward, she discovered 468 Bahraini dinars had been transferred from her account.

"I had no idea it was a scam. The caller sounded professional, like a bank employee," she testified.

Investigations uncovered that the defendants used various deceptive methods to access victims' accounts. One defendant admitted he was recruited by other members of the gang to collect Benefit Pay numbers from unsuspecting individuals. Another defendant disclosed that he was initially brought to Bahrain to work in a sweets business but was later coerced into participating in the fraud scheme.

Forensic examination of the defendants’ mobile devices revealed incriminating evidence, including screenshots of Bahraini Benefit Pay numbers and communications related to fraudulent activities.

Authorities have confirmed that this operation was a collaborative effort involving multiple individuals, with some still unidentified, to exploit digital payment platforms.

The case underscores the importance of vigilance in safeguarding personal and financial information, particularly in an era of rising cybercrime.