Dubai has come in as one of the leading career destinations in the world, attracting career professionals, students, and job seekers from virtually all over the world. However, although the city promises limitless opportunities, it is also a major location for sham employment offers, which can bring financial deficiencies, identity theft, and ruined enterprises.
Getting caught up in such a scam could cost you your savings, sensitive documents such as your Emirates ID or passport, and even jeopardize your career. In order to safeguard the residents and expatriates, the Dubai Police have provided very clear guidelines on how to identify, authenticate, and report suspicious offers through the 24/7 eCrime portal (ecrime.ae).
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What is a fake job scam?
Fake job scams, according to the eCrime department of the Dubai Police, involve fraud or fraudsters who pose as employment opportunities, but the intention is to:
- Take money in the name of visa processing, training, or background checks.
- Taking personal information like a copy of a passport, or Emirates ID, or bank details.
- Appear to be real Dubai-based firms using fake sites or impersonating real ones.
Once a payment is made by the victim, the scam generally stops there, leaving them out of a job, out of a refund, and in some cases with stolen personal information.
Warning Signs of Fake Job Offers
Dubai Police lists several red flags that job seekers need to look out for:
- Any demands for payment during the recruitment process.
- Job advertisements that are received via WhatsApp, Telegram, or free email (e.g., Gmail, Yahoo).
- Questionable contact information that does not correspond to the official site of the company.
- Urgency to be speedy or to hand over personal documents without any checking.
Steps to Take if You Encounter a Scam
- Never pay fees – Legitimate Dubai employers do not demand that their candidates defray expenses on visa acquisition or training.
- Verify the company – Check the company directly through the official means rather than through the channels found in the suspicious messages.
- Check the communication – Professional recruiters do not use messages via applications but communicate via corporate e-mails and official phone numbers.
- Trust your instincts – When something does not feel right or someone asks you to disclose personal information, take a moment and think it over.
If you receive a suspicious offer:
- Gather twigs (emails, offer letters, payment requests).
- Report it through the Dubai Police app or the eCrime platform (ecrime.ae) under eCrime.
- Do not communicate with the scammer anymore.
How to Verify a Job Offer in the UAE
- All official jobs in the UAE have an offer letter issued by the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE).
- Candidates are allowed to check the offer at their home country’s UAE embassy.
- It is also possible to check the number of the offer letter directly on the MOHRE website (inquiry.mohre.gov.ae).
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How to Check if a Company is Licensed
To verify whether a UAE company is true or not, use the National Economic Register (NER):
- Go to the NER platform.
- Choose “Enquiry on parsed as economic licenses.”
- Add the English or Arabic name of the company and the emirate.
- Click the search option to determine whether the company has a valid trade license or not.
How to Verify a UAE Entry Permit or Visa
- Dubai-issued visas/permits – Check through the GDRFA Dubai web site (gdrfad.gov.ae/en) entering your file number, nationality, and personal details.
- Visas/permits from other emirates – Verify on the ICP Smart Services platform (smartservices.icp.gov.ae) under “File Validity.”
Protect Yourself and Report Scams
Dubai is known as a hub of talent, and therefore, fraudsters are always on the prowl to defraud aspiring employees. Exercising vigilance, authenticating official records, and utilizing government portals such as eCrime, MOHRE, NER, GDRFA, and ICP Smart Services are ways in which residents can avoid financial and emotional damage. In case you face or suspect a bogus job opportunity in Dubai, note that no contact or payment should be entered, and you have to report this information through the Dubai Police eCrime portal.