Cyber Fraud Targeting U.S. Firm Ends in Jail Terms and Fines

TDT | Manama

Email: mail@newsofbahrain.com

The First High Criminal Court of Appeals in Bahrain has upheld sentences of five years in prison for the first defendant and eight years for the second defendant, along with fines of BHD 100,000 each, in a cyber fraud and money laundering case involving a U.S. company.

The court also ordered the confiscation of USD 99,283.23 (approx. BHD 37,330) linked to the crime, following an appeal by the Public Prosecution.

Scam

The case involved a phishing scam targeting a company in the United States, where the first defendant posed as a bank employee and sent a fraudulent link to steal banking credentials.

Around USD 197,000 (approx. BHD 74,000) was transferred, with nearly half later recovered through banking intervention.

Investigations by the Ministry of Interior revealed that USD 97,943.46 (approx. BHD 36,830) entered the first defendant’s account and was subsequently moved through multiple transfers and withdrawals to conceal its origin.

Account

A further transfer of USD 99,283.23 (approx. BHD 37,330) to the defendant’s wife’s account was frozen and returned before use.

Authorities stated the first defendant used his technical background and acted under instructions from an accomplice abroad, involving his wife’s account without her knowledge.

The court ruled that the first defendant played a central role in the fraud, while the second defendant assisted in the laundering operation.