Recruitment Scams in Dubai

Lots of people from different countries come to Dubai and the Middle East to search for greener pastures and earn a better living for themselves and their families. But there are plenty of scams that you should be aware of. Confidence artists will stop at nothing to defraud you, and if promising a high paying job is what it takes, these swindlers will be right there taking the money out of your pocket. You have to be vigilant with job offers coming from this region, even if you are a suitable candidate for the role. Remember if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. 

Technology is getting a lot more sophisticated, and it is getting more and more difficult for even the smartest of candidates to spot job scammers these days. There can be as much fake job offerings as there are legit ones. So make sure you're clued up on popular scams that occur here in the Emirate, and the warning signs that you shouldn't fall for these traps.

The Recruitment Agency Con

Recruitment agencies make their money by presenting suitable employment candidates to the companies that are hiring. Recruitment agencies make their money whenever a candidate that they’ve put forward gets awarded the job. These are more often than not high end jobs offering management and executive positions. The agency then narrows down a list of candidates for the company accordingly.

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The problem arises when recruitment ask potential employees to pay them an advance or service fee for finding a job for you. If a recruitment agency asks you hand over any amount of money, know that you are being scammed as it is illegal for them to do this. Recruitment agents are hired by companies and never by individuals. It is their job to sell you to the company, not to sell the company to you. There are many ways that these scam operations can fool even the most educated job candidates. Do not fall into the trap of paying for anything during the recruitment process, there are no such things as ‘under the table deals’ with regards to legitimate employment opportunities.

Never, ever give someone else money for hiring you.

The Expenses Con

There have been reports in the press in Dubai and Abu Dhabi of confidence tricksters posing as a representative from a big oil company or hospital and sending out lucrative job offers to potential employees. These job offers are often irresistible and are used to hook an unsuspecting mark. The offer letter will be sent bearing the company’s letterhead and logo. The offer is often one with a high salary and numerous benefits including medical, housing, expense account, travel allowance, beach club allowance etc. The offer may seem real enough.

With the offer letter these con artists will also send out a contract, for you to sign, which secures your position. This may give you peace of mind as a contact is binding right? Not if the company had naught to do with the offer of employment. The way in which these people get you to part with your money is by asking you to send them, or a ‘travel agency’, which in reality does not exist, a certain amount of money for your visa and flights. They will promise to reimburse this amount once you move to the UAE. Of course once you have handed the amount of money over to them, they disappear.

Trends of Job Scammers

• A job is said to offer you an attractive salary package instantly, without any skills or expertise needed
• You are immediately offered a job without having to submit your application, going through an interview and interacting with a representative of the company to talk about job details and salary benefits
• You are asked to make a payment such as a processing fee, training fee, placement fee etc. as a form of advanced payment to secure the job 
• You are asked to provide your credit card details or personal bank account information
• The company hiring you does not have a physical address and phone number listed

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Avoid Being Scammed

• Always use a reputable recruitment agency, research them properly online and through various forums
• Or apply directly to the company and visit their official website
• Use well known jobs boards to look for a job independantly
• Do not give your banking details to anyone online, if they are offering you a job they do not need to know this information
• Do not pay to be hired, this is always a scam. A reputable company may ask you to fund your own flight to the UAE, but they will never ask you to give them the cash
• If a company required you to pay for your visa, it will be included in your contract and taken out of your salary, once you have been employed. Never give them any money upfront
• Do not give money to recruiters. This is illegal
• Always do your research

In the UAE, there are plenty of job opportunities that are available for all expats. If you are unsure about a job offer, or a company that may hire you, take time to research online to make sure that the company and their job offer is legitimate.