Government | Friday 30 January, 2015 1:59 am |

The Interior Ministry has warned consumers that they should be wary of buying cars online because of the potential for fraud, particularly if bank accounts are registered overseas.
The ministry had received a notification from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that criminals are using certain websites to steal money from potential buyers, said Maj. Gen. Mohammed Al-Maroul, a spokesman at the Interior Ministry.

Al-Maroul said criminals get buyers to sign fake contracts, and supply bank account details in the names of nonexistent foreign companies. Criminals can open personal or company bank accounts in European Union countries if they are citizens of nations on the continent.

Buyers must check websites first before transferring money to bank accounts. They can also consult officials at Saudi embassies abroad if they need advice, he was quoted as saying in a local publication.