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Dubai Police have issued a fresh warning about the proliferation of online scams that falsely promise visas and employment opportunities in exchange for upfront payments. According to the force, these fraudulent messages and advertisements frequently appear on social media platforms and popular messaging applications. The alert forms part of the ongoing Be Aware of Fraud initiative aimed at protecting residents from cyber criminals who impersonate legitimate entities. Police stressed that such schemes often rely on creating an illusion of legitimacy to extract funds from unsuspecting individuals.
“These ads circulate on social media platforms and messaging apps, using the names of unlicensed companies or offices, or impersonating official entities, in an attempt to lure victims and steal their money,” Dubai Police said in the statement reported by The National on July 18. The force advised the public to avoid making any payments to third parties and to utilise only authorised government portals for all visa and residency related transactions. Fraudsters often create realistic looking profiles or websites to build trust before requesting funds, the force noted in its campaign materials. Residents should confirm the legitimacy of any offer before proceeding with applications or payments.
The warning coincides with official guidance published by the UAE government on its portal, which stresses that any legitimate job offer must be accompanied by an official letter issued by the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation. Individuals can verify the authenticity of such offers by entering the reference number on the ministry’s dedicated enquiry service website, according to u.ae. Employers bear the responsibility for covering visa costs, and job seekers should never be asked to pay fees for recruitment or documentation processing. This process ensures all transactions remain within regulated frameworks managed by federal authorities.
Dubai Police have documented a persistent pattern of such scams, with similar alerts issued in previous years targeting both job seekers and those pursuing residency options. In related cases from 2025, authorities highlighted the use of artificial intelligence tools by fraudsters to generate convincing job postings that trick applicants into revealing personal data or making payments, a Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation overview showed. A study commissioned by Visa found that 90 percent of UAE consumers surveyed remained at risk of falling for sophisticated scam tactics, underscoring the scale of the challenge.
To combat these threats, residents are encouraged to report any suspicious activity directly to the Dubai Police eCrime Hub, which provides a streamlined platform for submitting details of online fraud attempts. The cybercrime unit investigates impersonation schemes and unauthorised financial solicitations, often leading to arrests of involved parties, according to Dubai Police operational summaries. Official channels such as the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security handle genuine visa applications, ensuring all processes remain transparent and fee structures are publicly regulated. Coordination between police and labour ministries has increased to address evolving digital threats.
The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation has also issued parallel guidance on proper recruitment practices, which aligns with the police warning. Applicants are directed to use the official MoHRE app and website for all employment verifications, the government portal reported. Such coordinated announcements between police and labour authorities have become more frequent as digital platforms expand their reach across the UAE.
