The fast food giant warned customers of fraudulent websites that aim to steal money through fake orders.
McDonaldโs Qatar has warned its customers of a number of fake websites designed to dupe customers into making orders in the Gulf state.
โWe have been made aware of numerous fraudulent websites impersonating our business in Qatar,โ said McDonaldโs Qatar on their Instagram.
These websites have been advertising fake offers and requesting bank details from customers for fake and fraudulent transactions to steal money from consumers.McDonaldโs said the issue has been reported and that it was working closely with local authorities to rectify the matter and take down the fake websites.
Customers can protect themselves from a scam by placing orders on the official MyMcDonaldโs App, the official McDonaldโs websites, or food delivery platforms that feature McDonaldโs such as Talabat, Snoonu or Carriage.
The rise of fraudulent websites comes amid a growing trend in scam attempts and phishing attacks in Qatar.
In August, Qatarโs cultural village Katara said its Instagram account had been hacked by an unknown entity. Katara warned its social media followers to avoid replying to requests sent by its hacked account.
More than 88 percent of Qatarโs population is able to access the internet, making it one of the most connected countries in the Middle East.
This, along with the Gulf stateโs wealth and political stances, has made it a prime target for cyber criminals in recent years, security experts believe.
How to protect yourself
Cybercrime is illegal and punishable by law in Qatar, specifically Qatari Law โ14 that concerns offences committed using โan information network, an information system, a website, or any information technologyโ.
Since itโs better to be safe than sorry, Kasperskyโs security experts advise the following:
- Only install mobile applications from official app stores, such as Google Play on Android devices or the App Store on iOS.
- Block the installation of programmes from unknown sources in your smartphoneโs settings.
- Do not bypass device restrictions, as this might provide cybercriminals with limitless capabilities to carry out their attacks.
- Install system and application updates as soon as theyโre available โ they patch vulnerabilities and keep devices protected.
- Never download mobile OS system updates from external sources (unless youโre participating in official beta-testing). These should only be installed through official app stores.
- Use reliable security products for comprehensive protection from a wide range of threats, and update your security products regularly.
To report cyber crimes in Qatar, contact the Cyber Crime Investigation Centre by phone on 2347444 or email at cccc@moi.gov.qa.