By Dina Aboul Hosn, Staff Reporter, Gulf News
Published: 00:00 October 27, 2011

Reader comments (2)57.
Image Credit: Illustrative purposes only
Bogus jobs being offered by gangs disguised as companies are a growing concern, police have warned, as they are usually a cover for money laundering operations
Dubai: Bogus jobs being offered by gangs disguised as companies are a growing concern as they are usually a cover for money laundering operations, police have warned.

Major Saeed Al Hajeri, Director of the Criminal Investigation Department’s Electronic Crime section, said many people have fallen victim to these kind of traps for lack of awareness, despite police issuing warnings about these crimes.

Fake companies

Unregistered and fake companies advertise vacancies and people apply for these positions without realising their desperation to find work could land them in trouble, Maj Al Hajeri told Gulf News.

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They are asked to open bank accounts in their names and told that making money transfers on behalf of the company is part of their duties — and end up doing it with or without knowledge that what they are doing is illegal.

“Employees are told they are working for a trade company and are asked to open a bank account to receive money from clients who allegedly bought commodities from this company,” Maj Al Hajeri said.

They are then asked to transfer this money to other countries, and before they know it, they are involved as mules in money laundering crimes.

What they fail to realise is that their goodwill will not be taken into consideration when their employer’s company’s activities are tracked by the authorities. They will be prosecuted for their role along with their employers, Maj Al Hajeri said.

Activities

“These are not companies, but criminal gangs, and those who get involved in their activities will have to prove to the court that they are not part of the scheme because the transfers made in their names will be used as evidence against them,” he added.

Maj Al Hajeri warned residents against falling victim to this crime by ensuring they are employed by a registered company that issues working contracts and that any money transfers are in the company’s name, not their own.

The department registered 345 cases at the end of August this year, compared to 444 in 2010 and 436 in 2009. Of this year’s cases, 160 were referred to the court including 72 cyber assault cases, 57 phishing cases, 43 con cases, 53 phone thefts, 26 liable, 12 hacking, 17 blackmail, 11 breach of intellectual property, eight verbal abuse and three harassment cases.

Sana, a Lebanese resident, had just arrived in Dubai after marrying a UAE resident. She hoped her master’s degree in human resources and years of experience would help her secure a good job and saw a job advertised in a local paper.

Interview

“The company promised good position and allowances, so I sent my CV and eventually, an interview was scheduled,” she said.

When she turned up for the interview it was in a make-shift office. “I was wondering why a respectable financial services company does not have its own office, and this was the first alarming sign,” she said.

Sana was told she would not be issued with a work contract as the company would not sponsor her.

“The final straw was when they told me that… my job would entail receiving money from their ‘clients’ in the UAE and transferring it overseas. When I asked in whose name the transfers would be made, they told me it’s all in my name,” she said, adding, “I couldn’t run out fast enough.”

Safety tips

•Ensure the company you are applying to work for is registered and licensed to practice in the UAE.
•Do not accept an employment offer from a company that does not issue a labour contract, even if you will be working from home. If you do not have a labour contract registered at the Ministry of Labour you will be considered an illegal worker.
•A company should have its own bank accounts and should never ask employees to use their personal accounts in business transactions.
•Report any suspicious activities immediately to the police before you become a suspect.
— D.A.H.

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Post Comment Added 10:42 October 27, 2011
Sir, we were victims of the same .,.. we are from Dubai and went all the way to Ajman for attending the interview.Iam under myhusbands sponsorship last day we went to their office in ajman for interviEw. there were 3 woman who are receiveing the applicants call who interested on their job offer. they have collected Aed 100 as registration fee and they have informed that the same would be given back with the first salary.believe me they are not using their real name it is their fake name i don’t know the name of the other one girl they look like innocent but they are dishonest all of them are using fake name for their security in any complaints. they have collected Aed 200 for attending HR training to learn UAE labour laws and company HR laws and the amount is non refundable. We have not received any call back from them, We have called one of the women, she pretends as if she dont know where the said comapny is. Its really surprising that we being well educated and qualified got trapped in their words as we are in real need of the job, but then its an advice for the others, , , , , , , , , please dont get into these things. Please share these details with your friends in advance who are seriously looking for a job.
Anonymous, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Added 10:14 October 27, 2011
I am a victim myself. I just went ther yesterday to a company. They are a big fraudulent company! Please helpus by publishing this to the media. Thank you.
Anonymous, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

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Please find the above link for latest jobb scam news and discussions from ‘Gulf News” daily.

EXCLUSIVE: Dubai recruiter caught in Ministry sting op – Construction & Industry – ArabianBusiness.com.

Please check below blog for some iteresting details:

Here is an original SMS  message from this fruad company, normaly a ‘scape goat’ can get a chance:

BEWARE OF THIS SORT OF SMS MESSAGE!

“CORELEMNTS office#503, 5th Flr. Crown Plaza office Tower, Sheikh Zayed Rd. DUBAI Contact No. 043289494 Date: 1st April Wednesday. Interviewer Ms. Khadija Ishaq. We will be waiting for you. Wish you all the best.”

(Imagine….
One of our eager Scape Goat calling them with prayer, and getting assurance about their dream job  from one female Phillippina voice!
Started to stich a new suit and preparing for an interview wtih our Hon. Madam/Sir with prayers… ha ha ha!)
Check below link: