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The Wakefield Research study titled Stay Safe showed that 54 percent of participants in the Kingdom fell victim to fraud at least once equating to one in every two people. Thirteen percent of victims experienced deception multiple times compared with 15 percent globally according to the research published in December 2023. The study found that 43 percent of those affected recovered their money as excessive consumer confidence left Saudis more exposed than counterparts elsewhere.
Sixty-four percent of Saudi participants claimed they were smart enough to avoid online and mobile fraud yet nine in 10 ignored warning signs of criminal activity Wakefield Research data places the share at that level. Individuals who considered themselves more knowledgeable responded to scammers at higher rates than those with less experience the research found. Positive news messages elicited replies from 82 percent of the self-described savvy group versus 80 percent of others in Saudi Arabia against global figures of 74 percent and 67 percent.
Delivery and shipping updates ranked among the top three suspicious contacts for only 43 percent of respondents according to Wakefield Research figures. Marketing pitches for new products registered as dubious with 41 percent of participants while feedback requests on recent experiences did so with 45 percent. Fraudsters routinely deploy these three communication types the study noted in its assessment of consumer behavior patterns.
Visa reported that its 2025 Stay Secure study of 5 800 adults across 17 markets showed 43 percent of Saudi consumers had fallen for a scam with 10 percent victimized on multiple occasions. Ninety-seven percent of Saudi participants now take active precautions on online transactions Visa data places the adoption rate at that level. Fifty-nine percent had faced requests to transfer money on behalf of another party the payment network survey indicated.
The King Abdulaziz Center for National Dialogue conducted a 2022 poll of 1 045 citizens that found 62 percent encountered financial fraud attempts via phone or electronic means with 14 percent losing money as a result. Banks accounted for 72 percent of impersonations followed by police at 18 percent the center’s survey showed. Fifty-three percent of those who sustained losses said it negatively affected their family lifestyle according to the poll results.
The Saudi Central Bank has announced measures targeting fraudulent websites and social media accounts used in scams SAMA statements have detailed. A legal guide published by HD Law Firm outlined that prompt bank contact and official reporting raise prospects for tracing and retrieving funds. Similar surveys in the UAE have placed full recovery rates near 44 percent for online fraud victims Arabian Business coverage from 2015 reported.
