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

Quick answer: For an emergency or a crime in progress in Qatar, call 999. To report online fraud or cybercrime, contact the Ministry of Interior (MOI) Economic and Cyber Crimes Combating Department through the Metrash2 app, the hotline 66815757, phone 2347444, or email [email protected]. Then call your bank immediately to freeze the account and try to stop the transfer. Be realistic: money can sometimes be frozen if you act within minutes or hours, but recovery is never guaranteed once funds have moved on.

What to do in 3 steps

1. Call your bank first. Phone your bank's fraud line right away to freeze your account or card and request a recall of any transfer. The faster you call, the better the chance the money is still sitting in the receiving account and can be held.
2. Report to the MOI cybercrime department. File a report through the Metrash2 app, the hotline 66815757, phone 2347444, or email [email protected]. Keep the reference number you are given.
3. Escalate if needed. If the bank does not resolve a banking dispute, raise it with Qatar Central Bank's consumer protection channel. For incidents affecting systems, accounts or critical services, you can also report to the National Cyber Security Agency (NCSA).

How recovery actually works

There is no automatic refund button. When you report quickly, your bank can attempt to freeze the funds in the recipient's account and recall the transfer, and the MOI Economic and Cyber Crimes Combating Department can investigate and, where possible, trace and block accounts used by fraudsters. Success depends heavily on timing: if the money is still in the receiving account it may be held, but once it has been withdrawn or moved through several accounts it is often gone. Card fraud and clearly unauthorised transactions have a better chance of being reversed than payments you were manipulated into authorising. Treat reporting as damage control and evidence-building, not a guaranteed way to get your money back.

What to have ready

• Your Qatari ID (QID) and contact details.
• The date, time and amount of each transaction, plus your account or card number.
• The recipient's details: account or IBAN, phone number, name, or any wallet or platform handle used.
• Screenshots of messages, emails, websites, ads or social media accounts involved.
• Any reference numbers from your bank and from your MOI report.

Frequently asked questions

Do I report to the police or to the bank first? Call your bank first to try to stop or freeze the money, then file the cybercrime report with the MOI. For an active threat or emergency, call 999.

Can I report a cybercrime without going to a police station? Yes. The Metrash2 app, the hotline 66815757, phone 2347444 and the email [email protected] let you report remotely. You may still be asked to provide further statements or evidence.

What does the National Cyber Security Agency do? The NCSA handles cyber incidents affecting systems, networks and online accounts and accepts incident reports through its website. For stolen money and fraud, the MOI cybercrime department and your bank remain the main route, while serious account or platform compromises can also be reported to the NCSA.

Sources

• Ministry of Interior (MOI), State of Qatar
• National Cyber Security Agency (NCSA) - Report a Cyber Incident
• National Cyber Security Agency (NCSA) - Home
• Qatar Central Bank

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