By Staff Reporter
Desperate Dreams Shatter Lives – Employment Scams in Dubai
Are you seeking a job in the dazzling city of Dubai? A land of opportunities, Dubai has become a hotspot for young job seekers worldwide in recent years. As a result, the city has seen an exponential surge in the number of expatriates relocating with hopes of finding work. However, along with the influx of job seekers, employment scams have proliferated across the emirate, targeting individuals’ desperation and vulnerability.
Here’s a short overview of the various methods opportunists use to exploit job seekers and how you can protect yourself from these deceitful practices.
Fake Interviews and Job Offers
One of the most common scams in Dubai involves fake job postings on sites like Naukrigulf and LinkedIn. Scammers email applicants, claiming they’ve been selected for an interview and asking them to bring documents and a processing fee. Once at the location, their documents are confiscated, and applicants must pay a sum of money, usually around DH 500, to process their visa and employment. Those who refuse are often threatened, while those who pay to find the scammers disappear. Always verify the company’s credentials and never pay for a job offer!
A frequently encountered “employer” is the Brecks Group, a fake company operating scams in Dubai via deceptive emails. Other companies may direct applicants to bring their documents to an office near a metro station.
Here are some red flags to watch out for:
Poorly formatted content with typos and strange grammar.
Suspicious email addresses and links that could be phishing attempts.
Off-looking letterheads or invalid contact details on an offer letter.
Genuine interview invitations will maintain a professional tone and be free from odd details. Additionally, legitimate interviews usually follow a multi-step process. Be cautious of any overnight invitations that promise immediate hiring!
Mona, a Dubai resident aged 23, shared her experience with HiDubai:
“I had only been in Dubai for two weeks when I got my first interview invitations. I was thrilled to see employers showing interest in me, especially after hearing how tough the job market can be. I was determined to attend the first interview despite the strange formatting of the email. It wasn’t until the morning of the interview that I decided to run a Google search just to be sure. I copied the entire email into the search bar and found multiple Reddit threads and LinkedIn posts warning about this very email. These threads were filled with stories of other job seekers who had been scammed, with some even posting screenshots of the same email to warn others. That’s when I realized my interviews were part of a money extortion scheme.
While I was relieved to have avoided the scam, I was also heartbroken. Relocating to Dubai was a huge leap of faith for me, driven by the desire to advance my career. These scams feel like a mockery of our efforts. I’ve learned to be more cautious now.”
Source: HiDubai
