“Check Before You Interact”: Saudi Media Regulator, Meta Launch Initiative to Combat Online Fraud
The General Authority for Media Regulation and Meta have unveiled an awareness campaign under the slogan “Check Before You Interact,” designed to help users in Saudi Arabia detect, avoid and report online fraud while promoting safer use of digital platforms.
The initiative encourages people to pause and verify content and links before interacting with or sharing them, and to make full use of available digital safety tools to protect their accounts and personal data.
It also engages a group of trusted local content creators, supported by interactive content and practical tools that help users spot signs of online fraud and handle suspicious messages, accounts and advertisements.
The General Authority for Media Regulation said the partnership with Meta forms part of broader efforts to strengthen awareness of safe digital platform practices, empower community members to verify suspicious content and messages before engaging with them, and report fraud attempts.
Meta said the campaign seeks to embed safer digital habits by offering tips and tools that help users protect their accounts and respond to fraud attempts.
Practical tips to avoid fraud
The authority and Meta urged users in the Kingdom to be wary of urgent messages promising prizes, gifts or high financial returns, and to verify links and offers before clicking or sharing any personal information.
They also recommended enabling two-factor authentication, regularly reviewing account security settings, and reporting suspicious accounts, messages and ads directly within the apps.
Anas Metwally, Meta’s Director of Public Policy for the Gulf Cooperation Council, said fraudsters are continually refining their tactics, prompting the company to invest in technologies needed to detect, counter and remove fraud from its platforms.
He added that cooperation with the General Authority for Media Regulation on the “Check” initiative aims to strengthen digital literacy across Saudi society and raise awareness of online fraud indicators and how to deal with them.
Tools to protect accounts
The initiative highlights a range of tools to help users safeguard their accounts, including the Account Security Check feature on Facebook and Instagram, which allows users to review security settings, update weak passwords, enable two-factor authentication and set up login alerts.
Meta also provides passkeys, which replace traditional passwords with biometric data stored on devices or a screen lock code, alongside tools to review privacy settings and control who can view a profile and posts or contact the user.
Additional protections include warnings about suspicious links on Facebook, alerts when someone tries to log into a WhatsApp account from an unknown device, and a feature to silence incoming calls from unknown numbers.
The company also operates a “Fraud Protection Centre,” a central platform equipped with an AI-powered support tool that enables users to report fraud, view previous reports and access digital safety guidance.
159 million fraudulent ads removed
The campaign is part of Meta’s global efforts to combat fraud and scams. The company said it removed more than 159 million fraudulent ads worldwide in 2025, with 92% taken down before being reported.
It also disabled 10.9 million Facebook and Instagram accounts linked to criminal fraud centres and reduced the rate of reports of fraudulent ads per ad view by more than 55%.
Meta continues to invest in advanced technologies, including AI-based monitoring tools and facial recognition techniques, to counter celebrity impersonation and expand verification measures for advertiser accounts.
The company also works with government bodies, banks and law enforcement agencies around the world to disrupt fraud networks targeting internet users.
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