An account in your name asking your relatives for money, or someone claiming to be a bank employee or official who took your details? Impersonation is a crime in Saudi Arabia, and the penalty depends on what the impersonator did: took money, defamed you, or claimed an official capacity.
| Form | Penalty | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Obtaining money, a document or a signature by fraud, a false name or a false capacity, through information technology | Up to three years' prison and a fine of up to SAR 2 million, or either | Article 4, Anti-Cyber Crime Law |
| Taking another's money by lies, deception or false pretences, including impersonation | Up to seven years' prison and a fine of up to SAR 5 million, or either | Article 1, Anti-Financial Fraud and Breach of Trust Law |
| Using a fake account to defame and harm someone | Up to one year's prison and a fine of up to SAR 500,000, or either | Article 3, Anti-Cyber Crime Law |
The Public Prosecution and then the court decide the correct classification on the evidence; one act may involve more than one crime.
Reviewed by: Ghada Nasser Al-HarbiAttorney at USUS Law FirmLast updated:
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If someone impersonates you
- Report the fake account to the platform and warn your contacts.
- Keep the evidence: account link, screenshots, names of people contacted.
- If anyone paid money, they should call their bank immediately.
- File a report through the Kollona Amn app or a police station. See reporting fraud in Saudi Arabia.
Frequently asked questions
What is the penalty for impersonation in Saudi Arabia?
It depends on the act: via information technology to obtain money, up to three years and SAR 2 million (Anti-Cyber Crime Law, Art. 4); as financial fraud, up to seven years and SAR 5 million (Anti-Fraud Law, Art. 1).
Usus Law Firm handles cybercrime and fraud cases. See our fraud lawyer in Riyadh.
Legal review: the Usus Law Firm team
A select team of lawyers and legal advisers licensed by the Saudi Ministry of Justice, working from Riyadh and Tabuk, with experience before the general, commercial, labor, criminal, personal status and administrative courts. Every article is reviewed before publication and updated when laws or regulations change.
Last reviewed: 28 October 2026
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.
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