Student Arrested for Selling Counterfeit Weapons on Social Media in Egypt

Incident Overview

Egyptian Interior Ministry announced the arrest of a student in Dakahlia Governorate for operating a fraudulent scheme on social media claiming to sell white weapons (edged weapons such as knives). The suspect never actually possessed any weapons.

Modus Operandi

The suspect used the following tactics to defraud victims:

• Creating Fake Sales Page: Established a weapons sales page on social media platforms
• Promoting Non-Existent Products: Advertised weapons as if they were in stock despite having none
• Extracting Money: Requested payment transfers from interested buyers
• Disappearing Act: Turned off his phone immediately after receiving money, cutting off all communication with victims

Police Response

After identifying and investigating the suspect, authorities confirmed:

• The suspect confessed to creating and managing the fraudulent page
• Investigation found he possessed no weapons whatsoever
• Legal action is being taken

How to Protect Yourself from Similar Scams

Before Making a Purchase:

• Do not transact with sellers whose identity and credibility cannot be verified
• Avoid buying from accounts with no trading history or reviews
• Be cautious if the seller refuses to provide product photos or meet in person

When Making Payment:

• Understand the risk of losing contact after prepayment
• Avoid payment methods without refund protections (direct wire transfers)
• Do not pay, even small amounts, to untrusted parties

If You Become a Victim:

• Save all evidence of the transaction (screenshots of messages, bank transfer records)
• Report the fraud to local police
• Report the fraudulent sales page to the social media platform