Hajj applicants 'spammed' by beauty companies after using Saudi's new Motawif portal

Prospective Hajj pilgrims have reported being spammed by skincare companies after using Saudi Arabia's new Motawif application portal.

The online system was revealed recently for pilgrims from Europe and the US wishing to make Hajj. Previously, pilgrims would organise trips to Mecca via travel agencies.

Taking to Twitter, several applicants voiced their frustration after receiving emails from a company called 'Divine Beauty'.

"Asalaamu Alaikum Motawif Team. Since using your portal to register our interest, several of us are now receiving spam emails from skincare companies. Please can you urgently review your IT security process as our personal details have been leaked. Please resolve!" wrote one Twitter user.

Everyone who has registered including my self has received a spam email today. Why is this? Are Hajj ministry aware? This whole situation has been a joke from the start !! pic.twitter.com/IXs8trNIre

— Naquash Rashid (@KASH_RASHID) June 7, 2022

Others said that the spam messages had been sent to multiple members of their households.

"I’ve just found out that my family and I who signed up for Hajj via @Motawif_SA received spam emails from 'Divine Beauty' thanking us for signing up to their page. Has the website been hacked/has our data been sold? How can we trust this website with our payment information," said another Twitter user.

Despite having replied to Twitter queries about the new application system, the official Motawif account is yet to respond to claims that applicants' data was breached.

The New Arab reached out to Motawif for comment, but did not receive a response by the time of publication.

The two Holy Mosques' official Haramaininfo Twitter account, meanwhile, urged those concerned about the alleged data breach to contact Motawif.

There are many reports the Motawif Website database has been compromised and those registering are receiving spam emails from unknown brands, in order to seek more information about data being leaked, the recommendation is to contact Motawif to ensure data is not compromised.

— 𝗛𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗻 (@HaramainInfo) June 8, 2022

Announced by the kingdom's Ministry of Hajj and Umrah on Monday, the new Motawif system requires would-be pilgrims to enter a lottery-style system to secure a place.

Prior to this, those making the Islamic pilgrimage from Europe, America and Australia were able to sort out visas, flights and accommodation via local travel agencies.

Those who had booked their Hajj packages prior to the announcement on Monday will now have to request refunds.