DUBAI: A modus operandi pulled off by a gang of conmen luring unsuspecting victims outside the UAE with offers of high-paying jobs -- sometimes up to 10 times - continues unabated, XPRESS has learnt.
The latest victim, Mohammad Saani Al Hassan from Ghana, said he received an appointment letter on August 15 after he applied at an online job site as a logistics executive.
The job offer, which came from “Abu Dhabi Oil Refining Co”, came with a monthly pay of Dh37,720 ($10,250).
signed offer
Al Hassan, 35, a telecommunications logistics officer in Accra, said that the sham offer was signed by a so-called HR manager. On top of the fantastic pay, fance entitlements include $1,000 car allowance, Dh2,202 for entertainment/recreation, Dh3,486 for travel and events per month, as well as Dh36,626 as annual furnishing allowance.
The appointment letter stated: “We have in file your resume and job application… After the evaluation of these documents, we found you qualified to work with our team.”
Al Hassan was then instructed to contact a Dubai travel agent “who shall be responsible for the process (sic) of his valid UAE Work/Residence Permit Visa and then should forward it to the HR of Abu Dhabi National Oil Co (Adnoc) for verification and authenticity confirmation.”
Abu Dhabi Oil Refining Co, also known as Takreer, is one of Adnoc’s subsidiaries.
Al Hassan, who said he had never heard of similar job scams misusing Takreer’s name, tried to borrow money from friends, some of whom added to his confusion.
friends also fall for it
“Initially, I did not believe it. When I told a few friends, they said it may be possible to receive such a salary for the position I applied for in the UAE,” he told XPRESS.
The appointment letter stated that the employer will reimburse travel expenses incurred by the employee. In his eagerness to land the job, Al Hassan filled up the forms the bogus recruiter sent to him and was in close touch with a lady in Dubai who offered to prepare his work permit and travel papers.
Al Hassan said: “After I informed them I had not been able to raise $1,500 and asked for a few more days to meet the deadline, they told me to work harder to raise the amount and pay the agent quickly.”
Paul Ablenyie, a friend of Al Hassan, told XPRESS they helped him uncover the scam. “We have investigated it and it proved to be false,” said Ablenyie, without providing the details. Al Hassan said other friends had received similar fantastic offers by various companies in the UAE.
Last month a Pakistani doctor said he received an appointment letter from a supposed hospital in Abu Dhabi stating generous salary and perks. When the doctor called the number on the offer letter, he was told to contact a Dubai travel agent who also asked for airfare and visa money to be wired from Pakistan.
XPRESS reported how an IT technician nearly fell for the job racket last month in which a supposed HR manager for Takreer dangled a salary five times bigger than his current job in Doha.
The UAE Labour Law states that it is illegal to charge candidates for jobs.
In June, Adnoc cautioned jobseekers about a cyberscam involving fictitious jobs and misusing their name. XPRESS calls to the mobile numbers written on the bogus appointment letter to Al Hassan went unanswered.
