Kuwait uncovers raffle fraud: Egyptian woman, officials under investigation

Dubai: Kuwaiti authorities are expanding an investigation into a suspected fraud network that manipulated raffle draws, with an Egyptian woman accused of winning multiple prizes under suspicious circumstances.

The primary suspect, an Egyptian expatriate, was arrested Sunday evening at Kuwait International Airport as she allegedly attempted to flee the country, according to officials familiar with the matter.

The case, which has stirred public and media attention, also involves a Ministry of Commerce employee and the woman’s husband, both of whom have been detained. Early findings suggest that the scheme dates back to 2023 and could include more than six individuals, with connections that may extend beyond Kuwait’s borders.

Preliminary confessions by the suspects have led investigators to believe that the woman repeatedly entered raffle draws using slight variations of her name — alternating between first and last, first and middle, and full names — to evade detection. The cars she allegedly won, seven in total, were reportedly registered in her husband’s name and later sold for profit.

Authorities suspect the fraud ring to be more extensive than initially thought, involving individuals of multiple nationalities, including Egyptians, Indians, Asians, and Kuwaiti citizens. Investigators are now seeking official permission to access communication records between the suspects to piece together the full scope of the network.

The case has been handed over to the Public Prosecution, which is pursuing charges of fraud, forgery, money laundering, and actions deemed detrimental to Kuwait’s economic system.

“This is not a simple case of one person exploiting a loophole,” said a senior source familiar with the investigation. “We are looking at an organized effort to manipulate public raffles and profit illegally — a matter with serious implications for trust in commercial practices and government oversight.”