Every year thousands of workers lose money to fake job offers for Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman and Bahrain. Most scams follow the same pattern, so a few simple checks protect you.
Warning signs of a fake offer
- They ask you to pay for the visa, "processing", medical, training or a "guaranteed" job. In the GCC the employer normally pays visa and recruitment costs.
- The offer comes only on WhatsApp or Gmail/Yahoo, with no company website or official email domain.
- A very high salary for a simple job, or an offer without any interview.
- Pressure: "pay today or the seat goes to someone else".
- The visa or offer letter has spelling mistakes, a wrong logo, or a company name that you cannot find anywhere.
Check the employer and the agent
- Search the company name plus "scam" and look for an official website and real address.
- In Pakistan, an agent must be a licensed Overseas Employment Promoter. Check the licence on the Bureau of Emigration & Overseas Employment website (beoe.gov.pk). In India check eMigrate; in other countries check the labour ministry list.
- Ask for the visa number and check it on the official portal of the destination country (for example the Saudi Enjaz/visa enquiry or the UAE ICP/GDRFA services).
- For Saudi Arabia, your contract should later appear on Qiwa; in the UAE the offer letter and contract are issued through MOHRE.
Before you travel
- Read the full contract: salary, working hours, housing, food, transport, leave, ticket and end-of-service benefit.
- Keep copies of your passport, visa, contract and all receipts – on your phone and with your family.
- Never give your passport to anyone except the official authorities. Employers in the GCC are generally not allowed to keep your passport.
- Save the number of your embassy or consulate in the destination country.
Apply the safe way on KhaleejJobNet
On KhaleejJobNet, jobs from partner sites open the original advertisement, and we never ask job seekers for money. If anyone asks you for money in our name, email us at khaleejjobsnet@gmail.com and include the link.
Remember: if a deal is too good and needs money first, stop and check.