How to Avoid Remittance Scams and Fake Apps in Saudi Arabia

By the RiyalRate.com team · 13 October 2026

Why this matters

People who send money regularly are a common target for fraudsters, because they move money often and may be in a hurry. A few simple habits make most scams easy to spot.

Common warning signs

• Offers that sound too good to be true, such as a rate far above everyone else's, or a "special rate" that expires in minutes.
• Someone asking for your OTP, PIN, password or card details. A real provider will never ask you to read out a one-time code.
• Messages with links that ask you to log in or update your account. Open the app directly instead.
• Apps that are not from the official store or that were sent to you as a file on social media.
• Pressure to pay first to a personal account or to someone you do not know.

How to protect yourself

• Install apps only from the official app store, and check the developer name.
• Use only providers licensed in Saudi Arabia. The Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) supervises money transfer services in the Kingdom, so check a provider's status before using it.
• Turn on screen lock, biometric login and transaction alerts.
• Keep every receipt and transaction reference until your family confirms the money arrived.
• Be careful with informal channels that give no receipt: if something goes wrong you may have no way to prove what you sent.

If something goes wrong

Contact your provider immediately using the number or in-app support shown inside its official app. If you suspect fraud, tell your bank, and report it through the official channels of the authorities. The sooner you act, the better the chance of stopping a payment.

RiyalRate.com is not a bank or money transfer service, never asks for your money, your OTP or your bank details, and does not send you payment links. If you receive a message claiming to be from RiyalRate.com asking for any of these, ignore it.