MUSCAT : In an innovative initiative that takes awareness of cyber fraud beyond conventional messaging towards creative and impactful content, the Royal Oman Police (ROP) and Bank Muscat, the leading financial services provider in the Sultanate of Oman, have announced the launch of a short film contest aimed at raising awareness of cyber fraud, during a press conference organised by the two institutions in Bank Muscat Head Office at Airport Heights and was attended by a number of officials and representatives of the various media channels. Targeting young people aged 18 and above, the contest seeks to harness their creativity and content creation skills to deliver awareness messages capable of reaching different segments of society in a modern and engaging manner. The contest forms part of the activities of the joint awareness campaign implemented by the two institutions to combat cyber fraud, which is continuing for the sixth consecutive year.

During the conference, a presentation was delivered highlighting the competition’s objectives, categories, target audience, and other relevant details. In addition, examples of awareness initiatives from the joint campaign between the Royal Oman Police and Bank Muscat were showcased, along with some of the key phases it went through during the previous period. The press conference also served as a platform for exchanging ideas and views aimed at raising public awareness of the various types of electronic fraud, ways to prevent them, and educating the community about emerging fraudulent practices.

The contest invites participants to produce a short film of no more than 90 seconds highlighting a particular method of cyber fraud and explaining how to identify and prevent it, thereby contributing to greater awareness, vigilance and responsible digital behaviour. Those interested in participating can submit their entries through the dedicated competition link: www.khalikwa3i.om, no later than 20^th of November 2026.

Winners will receive valuable cash prizes totaling RO 6,000, with the first-place winner receiving RO 3,000, the second-place winner RO 2,000, and the third-place winner RO 1,000. In addition, incentive prizes will be presented to selected participants in recognition of their creativity and efforts in supporting the initiative’s awareness objectives.

The significance of the competition lies in placing young people at the heart of the awareness process, not merely as a target audience, but as active partners in creating and disseminating the message. With the rapid growth of digital platforms and the continuous evolution of fraud techniques, short films and visual content have become increasingly effective tools for reaching audiences, particularly young people. The initiative therefore seeks to transform creative ideas into simple, impactful and direct messages that help members of the community recognise potential fraud attempts before falling victim to them.

On this occasion, Lieutenant Colonel Mohammed bin Salam Al Hashami, Director of Public Relations, at Royal Oman Police, said: “Awareness represents a fundamental line of defence against cyber fraud, particularly given the continuous evolution of the methods used by fraudsters to target members of society. Through this competition, we aim to further engage young people in awareness efforts and benefit from their creative capabilities in producing content that resonates with audiences and communicates preventive messages effectively. We hope that the participating films will help reinforce a culture of verification and vigilance, as well as the importance of never sharing banking or personal information. We also hope to encourage every individual to become more aware of their role in protecting themselves and others from fraud attempts.”

Talib bin Saif Al Makhmari, Head of Community and Media Relations at Bank Muscat, said: “We are proud to continue our partnership with the Royal Oman Police in implementing impactful initiatives that contribute to strengthening community awareness of cyber fraud. This competition introduces a different approach by giving young people the opportunity to become creators of the awareness message, using their own language, ideas and creativity. We are confident that the content produced by participants can make a valuable contribution to the ongoing efforts in this field, particularly as an innovative 90-second awareness message could potentially protect an individual or an entire family from becoming victims of fraud. We are also proud of the success and positive impact achieved by the joint campaign across various segments of Omani society.”

The competition builds on the longstanding partnership between Bank Muscat and the Royal Oman Police in combating and cyber fraud and enhancing community awareness. The joint awareness campaign against cyber fraud was launched in 2019 and, over the years, has utilised a wide range of traditional and digital media channels, including the production and dissemination of awareness videos, as well as lectures and workshops at universities, colleges and various institutions. These initiatives have highlighted the techniques used by fraudsters and provided practical guidance on how individuals can protect themselves.

The joint campaigns have also addressed a range of evolving fraud methods, including one-time password (OTP) fraud, impersonation of institutions and individuals, fraudulent links and websites, fake courier and delivery messages, fraudulent employment and investment offers, as well as phishing through emails, text messages and phone calls. The partnership has also included specialised awareness sessions on cyber fraud and the protection of banking information, as part of ongoing efforts to build a well-informed society capable of keeping pace with evolving digital threats.

Through the new competition, Bank Muscat and the Royal Oman Police continue to advance their collaborative approach to awareness by moving beyond simply delivering messages to actively involving the community in creating them. The competition provides young people with a platform to present their creative perspectives on one of the most pressing issues related to digital security, thereby contributing to building a more informed society that is better equipped to protect its personal data and assets and navigate the digital environment safely.

Bank Muscat continues to invest in awareness and prevention programmes as essential components of its efforts to protect customers and promote the safe use of digital banking services, alongside the continued development of advanced systems and technologies for fraud detection and prevention.