Dubai authorities have intensified their public awareness campaign following a sophisticated online fraud case where a resident was defrauded of Dh10,000 through fake domestic worker recruitment accounts. The incident highlights an emerging pattern of digital deception targeting households seeking domestic assistance.
According to Dubai Police’s Anti-Fraud Centre, criminals are creating convincing social media profiles and promotional content mimicking legitimate recruitment agencies. These operations typically initiate contact with seemingly attractive employment offers that rapidly escalate into financial demands, after which perpetrators become unreachable.
The comprehensive advisory urges residents to exercise extreme caution when encountering unverified recruitment services on digital platforms. Officials emphasize that all legitimate domestic worker recruitment must occur through licensed agencies operating within the UAE’s legal framework. The public is specifically warned against transferring funds to individual accounts or unverified entities outside official channels.
Dubai Police have reinforced their reporting mechanisms, directing victims to utilize multiple official channels including the Dubai Police Smart App, the dedicated eCrime platform, and the non-emergency hotline 901. This forms part of the broader #BewareOfFraud initiative designed to combat evolving cybercrime methodologies.
Authorities stress that adherence to proper recruitment protocols remains essential for protecting the rights of all parties involved—employers, domestic workers, and legitimate recruitment agencies. The verification of service providers’ credentials before sharing personal information or processing payments is identified as a critical preventive measure.