Money Withdrawn From My Account Without My Knowledge in Saudi Arabia: What to Do

You opened your bank app and found money withdrawn from your account without your knowledge, or got a "transfer completed" message for a payment you never made? The first minutes matter most: the sooner you tell the bank, the better the chance of stopping the transaction or reaching the money before it moves. Here are the steps in order, and what a report and a lawyer can do afterwards.

Reviewed by: Ahmed Hasan AlShehriAttorney at USUS Law FirmLast updated: 25 October 2026

Do this now, in this order

1. Call your bank at once on its official number. Say you did not make the transaction, ask them to block the card and online services and to try to recall the money. Note the reference number and time.
2. Change your passwords for the bank app and your email, and never give a verification code to anyone who calls you, even if they say they are the bank.
3. Keep the evidence: the statement, the messages you received, any link you clicked or number that called you.
4. File a report through the Kollona Amn app or at a police station.
5. If the bank does not respond, complain to the Saudi Central Bank through SAMA Cares.

How money is usually taken

• A message or call pretending to be the bank or a government body, asking you to "update your details" or share a code.
• A fake link to a page that looks like your bank or a known shop.
• Stolen card details used for online purchases.
• Someone close who used your phone or card; that may be theft or breach of trust, not only online fraud.

Will I get the money back?

It depends on how fast you reported it, how the transaction was made, and whether the money can be traced. If the fraudster is caught, the court usually orders the amount returned as part of the private right. Nobody can guarantee full recovery, but a fast, documented report raises the chances a great deal. See fraud penalty in Saudi Arabia and how to recover your money.

Frequently asked questions

Is the bank responsible if money was taken without my knowledge?

It depends on the circumstances: whether you shared your details or a code, whether you reported it at once, and whether there was a failure on the bank's side. Report immediately and keep everything that shows you did not make the transaction.

I got a "transfer completed" message for a payment I did not make. Is it real?

It may be real, or a fake message meant to make you call the fraudster's number. Do not call any number in it; open your bank app yourself and check.

Usus Law Firm handles financial fraud and recovery cases for victims, from the report to judgment and enforcement, in English and Arabic. See our fraud lawyer in Riyadh.

This article is general legal information and is not a substitute for advice on your specific case. Court proceedings in Saudi Arabia are in Arabic; the official Arabic text of each law prevails.