Saudi Gazette report

RIYADH — An official has warned against false and misleading electronic advertisements which use the photo of Minister of Commerce and Investment Dr. Majid Al-Qasabi for promoting investments under various fake names or titles, including: “Message from the Crown Prince”, “Investment opportunities for Saudis only” and “An opportunity for citizens”.

Abdulrahman Bin Mohammed Al-Hussein, official spokesman of the Ministry of Commerce and Investment, said marketing or publishing such advertisements is a punishable crime as they involve fraud, deception and misleading. He warned that certain miscreants resort to this fraud to raise funds illegally for unknown entities.

These ads, Al-Hussein said, are in explicit violation of the e-commerce system. Penalties in such system may reach up to one million riyals and the website is blocked. The violators also risk naming and shaming in local newspapers at their expense, he said.

Al-Hussain said the ministry is in coordination with competent authorities to track the sources of these ads and to take the necessary legal measures against them.