UAE authorities warn jobseekers of rising employment scams targeting money and personal data

How scammers target jobseekers in the UAE

Fraudulent job offers promising attractive salaries and benefits are targeting jobseekers in the UAE, with authorities warning that scammers are after both money and sensitive personal information.

The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation has issued an alert about fake recruitment schemes, urging applicants inside and outside the country to verify job offers before proceeding with any employment procedures. Dubai Police reported a 27% increase in visa-fraud cases during the final quarter of 2025, with individual losses ranging from AED 1,500 to AED 25,000 per victim.

Official job offers approved by MOHRE carry a serial number and barcode that can be verified through the ministry's website at www.mohre.gov.ae, its smart application, or by calling the ministry's contact centre on 600 590000.

Anatomy of recruitment fraud

Fake recruitment operations typically begin with advertisements on social media platforms, websites or messaging applications, offering competitive salaries and comprehensive benefits packages. Fraudsters frequently copy the names, logos and branding of legitimate companies to create an appearance of authenticity.

After initial contact with applicants, scammers claim the candidate has been selected for the position before requesting payment for visa processing, medical examinations, registration or other recruitment-related expenses. Scammers typically demand payments of AED 10,000 or more for these fabricated fees before disappearing entirely.

Under Article 6 of UAE Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021, employers are prohibited from charging workers recruitment or employment costs, either directly or indirectly. Recruitment-related expenses that must be covered by employers include visa issuance, medical examinations, work permits, Emirates ID issuance and employee residency permits.

Personal data exploitation

Financial loss is not the only risk facing jobseekers. Fraudsters also target personal information, requesting passport copies, Emirates ID details, banking information, payment card details, passwords or verification codes from unsuspecting applicants.

Abu Dhabi Police has cautioned jobseekers against providing personal information to unknown recruitment entities, particularly when scammers impersonate established companies. The UAE Cybersecurity Council reported that 40% of social media users in the country have experienced account breaches after sharing personal information online.

The information obtained through these schemes can be exploited for additional fraud or identity theft. Under Federal Decree-Law No. 34 of 2021, identity theft penalties in the UAE include imprisonment and fines ranging from AED 100,000 to AED 1,000,000.

Warning signs of fraudulent offers

Jobseekers should exercise caution when an employment offer involves any of the following elements:

• Requests to pay money to secure employment
• Salaries that appear unusually high for the position and industry standards
• Pressure to make immediate payments or provide details urgently
• Email communications that do not use the company's official domain
• Interviews conducted exclusively through informal messaging applications
• Requests for bank details, passwords or verification codes
• Refusal to provide an official job offer that can be independently verified

Some fraudsters also promise immediate employment on tourist or visit visas. Working on a tourist or visit visa in the UAE is illegal and can result in fines or legal action against the employee.

Verification procedures

Anyone receiving a suspicious offer should contact the company directly using contact details listed on its official website rather than information provided by the recruiter. Applicants should also review the company's official careers page and verify the job offer through MOHRE's verification system before sharing sensitive information or beginning recruitment procedures.

Jobseekers who suspect fraud should preserve copies of advertisements, messages, email addresses and telephone numbers used by the suspected scammer. In Abu Dhabi, suspicious activity can be reported through Abu Dhabi Police's Aman service on 800 2626.

The guidance from authorities remains clear: verification must precede acceptance. While company logos and convincing messages can be replicated, an official job offer should always be independently confirmed through proper channels.