MUSCAT : Responding to a question posed by The Arabian Stories CEO Nishad Padiyarath regarding the potential introduction of a caller ID service to curb scam incidents, Lt. Colonel Al Kharusi placed the onus on human behaviour.

“The issue is human error. It happens despite awareness. It may be based on a particular situation or a specific time… It cannot be resolved unless the behaviour is modified,” he stated.”

His comments came amid mounting public concern over the rise in fraudulent activity, with many calling for stronger technological safeguards. When asked about reports of a 35 percent increase in fraud cases, Lt. Col. Al Kharusi clarified, “There is no statistics recorded for this year, but there is a big number and the situation could be worse with AI.”

Earlier during the panel discussion, he highlighted the role played by the Royal Oman Police in dealing with cybersecurity cases. “The issues are diverse, such as psychological impact and intellectual invasion… The Royal Oman Police has a role to play in dealing with these cases, but the individual must educate himself through awareness messages,” he maintained.

The increasing prevalence of online scams and financial fraud in Oman was a key topic of discussion at the just concluded Banking and Technology Summit, which brought together experts from banking, cybersecurity, and law enforcement to discuss the future of digital safety in the Sultanate.

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