17 expats arrested in Saudi Arabia over SIM card scam

Dubai: Saudi police have arrested 17 expatriates for allegedly using two apartments in Al Aziziya neighbourhood in Riyadh to sell SIM cards, using forged identity cards, Saudi Press Agency reported on Monday.

Colonel Shaker Al Tuwaijri, the media spokesperson for Riyadh police, said the suspects, from Egyptian, Syrian Yemeni and Bangladeshi nationalities allegedly registered these SIM cards in the name of citizens and residents without their knowledge.

The police seized from their possession 9,000 SIM cards belonging to a number of companies, three fingerprint readers, computers and scanners.

Upon investigation, the suspects also confessed to swindling citizens and expatriates by practicing illegal brokerage activity tom issue vehicle insurance policies at prices exceeding the approved value of authorized companies.

They were referred to the Public Prosecution for legal action. They will remain in custody pending further investigation and trial, Col. Al Tuwaijri said.