How to Report Cybercrime in Bahrain (and Get Your Money Back)

Quick answer: If you are in immediate danger call 999. Report the cybercrime to the Ministry of Interior's General Directorate of Anti-Corruption and Economic & Electronic Security on its hotline 992, via WhatsApp on +973 1710 8108, or through the online report form on the Ministry of Interior website. Then call your bank immediately and ask them to freeze the account and try to recall the transfer. Refund reality: money is most often recovered when the bank can stop or reverse the payment in the first hours, so speed matters far more than anything else.

What to do in 3 steps

1. Call your bank first. Phone the number on the back of your card or in your banking app, report the fraud, and ask them to freeze the account and attempt to recall or reverse the payment. The sooner the bank acts, the better the chance of recovery.
2. Report to the Ministry of Interior. Contact the General Directorate of Anti-Corruption and Economic & Electronic Security on hotline 992, on WhatsApp at +973 1710 8108, or through the online report form on the Ministry of Interior website. Keep the reference you are given.
3. Preserve every piece of evidence. Do not delete messages, emails, or transaction records. Take screenshots, note names, numbers, and account details, and give copies to both the bank and the police.

How recovery actually works

There is no guaranteed refund in Bahrain. Recovery depends almost entirely on whether the money can still be stopped. When you alert your bank quickly, it may be able to freeze the receiving account or recall the transfer before the criminal withdraws the funds, and it can coordinate with the receiving bank and the police. Card payments and clearly unauthorised transactions give you stronger grounds to dispute the charge. Where you authorised the payment yourself after being deceived, the bank is not automatically liable, but a fast police report and bank trace still give the best chance. If your bank does not resolve your complaint to your satisfaction, you can escalate the matter to the Central Bank of Bahrain.

What to have ready

• Your account or card number and the exact dates, times, and amounts of the disputed transactions.
• The receiving account, IBAN, phone number, wallet, or website the money went to.
• Screenshots of all messages, emails, calls, and payment confirmations.
• Any names, profiles, links, or company details the scammer used.
• Your bank's fraud report reference and the police report reference number.
• A photo ID (CPR card) for filing the report and the bank dispute.

Frequently asked questions

Will I definitely get my money back?
No. There is no automatic refund. Recovery is most likely when the bank can freeze or reverse the payment quickly, especially for unauthorised card or account transactions. Money you sent yourself after being deceived is much harder to get back, so report within hours, not days.

Do I report to the police or to the bank?
Both, and ideally at the same time. Call your bank immediately to try to stop the money, and report the crime to the Ministry of Interior on 992 or through its online form so there is an official record and an investigation can begin.

What if my bank does not resolve my complaint?
Raise a formal complaint with your bank first. If it is not resolved or you are not satisfied with the bank's final decision, you can refer the case to the Central Bank of Bahrain, generally within 30 days of the bank's final response.

Sources

• Ministry of Interior, Kingdom of Bahrain
• National Cyber Security Centre, Kingdom of Bahrain
• Central Bank of Bahrain, consumer complaint form
• Kingdom of Bahrain National Portal, Cybersecurity in Bahrain

For step-by-step reporting and recovery guides covering other countries, see our cybercrime help hub.