On October 13, 2026, Egyptian authorities arrested a student from the Khanka area in Qalyubia governorate for operating an online scam. The student had created a social media page to promote the sale of white weapons in exchange for financial gain. According to investigations, the suspect used images of white weapons from other pages and re-published them on his own page, claiming they were available for sale.
The suspect revealed that he started his scam by communicating with potential buyers through Facebook, then moved the conversation to WhatsApp. He would agree on a price with the buyer and request that they transfer the money first, claiming he would send the white weapon to their location. After receiving the payment, he would cut off contact with the buyer and disappear for up to 10 days before reactivating his account to target new victims.
The General Administration for Combating Cybercrime, in coordination with the Public Security Sector, uncovered the suspect's activities. They identified and arrested the individual operating the social media page promoting the sale of white weapons. During the arrest, police found a mobile phone containing evidence of the suspect's criminal activities, but no white weapons were found in his possession.
The suspect confessed to managing the social media page and publishing images of white weapons to scam citizens looking to make a purchase. He admitted to using the money transfer services to receive payments from victims. The investigation revealed that the suspect had been using this method to deceive people and gain financially.
The arrested student is from the Khanka area in Qalyubia governorate. Authorities took him into custody and seized his mobile phone as evidence. The case was then referred to the Public Prosecution for further investigation.
The General Administration for Combating Cybercrime is continuing to investigate the case and uncover any potential accomplices. The authorities urge citizens to be cautious when making online transactions and to report any suspicious activities to the relevant authorities.
The case highlights the growing concern of online scams in Egypt and the need for increased awareness and vigilance among citizens. The authorities are working to combat such crimes and protect citizens from falling victim to online scams.
Key points
- The suspect used social media to scam people into buying white weapons, receiving payments but not delivering the goods.
- The suspect would often cut off contact with buyers after receiving payment and reappear after a few days to target new victims.
- The authorities are urging citizens to be cautious when making online transactions and to report any suspicious activities.
