Saudi security forces have arrested multiple suspects running fraudulent Hajj operations - including three Indonesian residents in Makkah caught with forged Hajj permits and counterfeiting equipment. The crackdown comes as the Interior Ministry confirms that penalties for Hajj-related fraud this season can reach up to 7 years in prison and 5 million Saudi Riyals (approximately $1.3 million) in fines. Translated from Arabic sources.

What Was Seized

According to reports from Saudi security services, the arrests targeted individuals involved in:

  • Fake Hajj campaign advertisements promoted through social media, luring victims with below-market prices for non-existent services
  • Counterfeit Hajj permits - forged Nusuk-style documents designed to bypass the official permit system
  • Forged sacrifice vouchers (سندات أضاحي مزورة) sold to pilgrims who believed they were arranging their obligatory hady through legitimate channels
  • Unauthorised accommodation and transport - unlicensed operators offering housing in the sacred sites and transport to Mina and Arafat

Three Indonesian residents were arrested in Makkah with forged permits and the tools used to produce them. Bangladeshi and Sudanese nationals were also detained in separate operations.

The Penalty Escalation

The Saudi Interior Ministry has published a comprehensive list of Hajj-related violations and penalties for season 1447. The most severe penalties target fraud and organised deception:

  • Promoting fake Hajj campaigns: Up to 7 years prison + 5 million SAR fine
  • Performing Hajj without a permit: Up to 20,000 SAR fine + deportation + 10-year re-entry ban for non-Saudis
  • Facilitating unauthorised Hajj (transport, accommodation, visa sponsorship): Up to 100,000 SAR per person facilitated
  • Entering Makkah without authorisation during Hajj season: Fine + potential detention

The 7-year/5-million-SAR penalty specifically targets those who run fraudulent operations at scale - not individual pilgrims who may have been deceived into purchasing fake services.

How Pilgrims Get Scammed

The most common scam pattern involves social media advertisements offering Hajj packages at suspiciously low prices - sometimes 50-70% below legitimate operator rates. Victims pay deposits or full amounts, receive fake confirmation documents, and discover the deception only when they arrive at the airport or try to enter Makkah.

Other scams include:

  • Selling "guaranteed" Hajj permit slots outside the Nusuk platform
  • Offering accommodation in Mina that does not exist or belongs to another group
  • Selling sacrifice certificates that are never fulfilled
  • Impersonating official Hajj authority representatives to collect fees

How to Protect Yourself

  • Only use the official Nusuk platform (hajj.nusuk.sa) for registration and permit applications
  • Only book through licensed operators listed on your national Hajj authority's website or the Saudi Ministry's approved company list
  • Never pay via personal bank transfers to individuals - legitimate operators accept formal payment methods with receipts
  • Be suspicious of prices significantly below market rate - if a Hajj package costs half what others charge, it is almost certainly fraudulent
  • Verify any permit or document through the Nusuk app before relying on it
  • Report suspected fraud to Saudi police on 911 (in Makkah region) or to your national Hajj authority