The Visa Trap: Dubai Police Warn of Deepfake-Driven Work Permit Scams
Dubai has seen a surge in fraud schemes involving fake job offers and visa arrangements. Local police warn that criminals are actively using forged employment guarantees and fictitious sponsorship documents to deceive victims. Under the pretext of arranging work visas, scammers promise fast and supposedly reliable pathways—naturally, in exchange for money.
As emphasized by the Anti-Fraud Center of the Criminal Investigation Department, offenders typically make contact through social media platforms and messaging apps, posing as company representatives or recruitment agents. Their objective is to create a sense of urgency and exclusivity, pressuring individuals into making rapid payments. In reality, such schemes carry no legal validity and cannot serve as a legitimate basis for obtaining a visa.
As part of the public awareness campaign “Beware of Fraud,” authorities stress that these scams form part of a broader ecosystem of deception, encompassing fake advertisements, investment traps, phishing campaigns, and even fabricated videos created using deepfake technology. Together, these elements create an illusion of legitimacy that conceals outright fraud.
The only lawful route to obtaining a work visa in the UAE is through official government channels or licensed recruitment agencies. Any alternative pathways should be treated with extreme caution. If an offer includes promises of a guaranteed visa or appears unusually attractive, it is almost certainly an attempt at deception.
To reduce risk, experts advise verifying all information through official sources, avoiding rushed decisions without proper confirmation, refraining from transferring money to unknown parties, and treating advertisements with suspiciously favorable terms with skepticism.
Suspected fraud can be reported via the Dubai Police mobile application, the eCrime platform, or the local hotline at 901. Authorities note that timely reporting is essential to curbing the spread of such schemes and protecting others from financial loss.
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