In the past three months, Saudi Arabia's commerce authorities have monitored and blocked 22 websites involved in fraud.

Abdulrahman Al Hussain, a spokesman for the Ministry of Commerce, said the blocked sites promoted bogus apps that defrauded consumers.

At a media forum in Riyadh, he warned against falling victim to fraud.

The Saudi security authorities announced earlier this month that they had arrested three citizens suspected of defrauding a commercial establishment of SR2.9 million through false impersonation.

The trio had been arrested in Riyadh on suspicion of committing a criminal act through false impersonation and stealing SR2.9 million from the establishment.

Saudi General Directorate of Public Security reported that SR2.24 million and a car purchased with the money were restored after the arrest.

Saudi media have reported several arrests linked to fraud cases in recent months.

Earlier this month, a Saudi court sentenced a mosque imam to five years in prison on charges of fraud, harming judicial reputation, and breaching trust.

Alweeam added that the court also ordered the defendant to pay a fine of SR55,000 into the state treasury.

Fraud is punishable by up to seven years in prison and a maximum fine of SR5 million under Saudi law.

Adulteration of food carries harsher penalties.

A Saudi prosecutor said at the time that authorities busted a group of citizens who made fake offers online for used cars and raked in over SR6 million in illicit gains.

Saudi Arabia announced last month that it would establish a prosecution branch to handle financial fraud cases.