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Fake Part-time Job Offers Targeting Job Seekers
Dubai Police have warned residents about fake part-time job advertisements that target people looking for extra income, as fraudsters continue to use online offers to steal personal data, banking details and access to accounts.
The warning, issued in Dubai on 25 October 2026, came through the Dubai Police Anti-Fraud Centre. Authorities said scammers are promoting attractive part-time roles that appear simple, flexible and well paid. In many cases, the aim is not recruitment. It is to obtain sensitive information or pull applicants into illegal financial transactions.
Police urged jobseekers to verify any company before accepting an offer, refuse requests for payment, avoid unknown links, and never allow anyone to use their bank account to receive or transfer money.
They also called on the public to report suspected job scams through the Dubai Police eCrime platform or by calling 901.
Police say fake job offers are being used to steal data and money
According to the advisory, fraudulent part-time job offers are being used to approach residents who may be seeking additional income. Scammers often present the work as easy, remote or commission-based. The offer may appear to require little skill, quick registration and immediate payment.
Dubai Police said the risk goes beyond losing money to a fake recruiter. Some fraudsters ask applicants to submit copies of identity documents, bank card details, passwords or one-time passwords. Others may ask victims to receive money into their personal accounts and send it onwards for a commission.
That form of request can expose the applicant to serious legal and financial risks. Even if a person believes they are completing a simple task for a job, allowing unknown parties to use a personal bank account can link them to suspicious transactions.
The Anti-Fraud Centre warned that scammers may use persuasive wording and urgent deadlines to pressure people into acting before they verify the offer.
The main precautions listed in the advisory
Dubai Police urged jobseekers to take a cautious approach before accepting any part-time role, especially if the offer arrives through an unsolicited message or unfamiliar link.
The public safety advisory listed several key steps.
Verify the company’s business licence and identity before accepting a job offer. A legitimate employer should have clear registration details, a traceable presence and verifiable contact information.
Never pay registration or recruitment fees to secure employment. Fraudsters often describe these payments as processing fees, training fees, deposits or activation charges.
Never share bank details, passwords or OTP verification codes. A one-time password can give a scammer access to an account or authorise a transaction.
Avoid suspicious links and offers promising easy money. Links may lead to fake login pages, malware, phishing forms or cloned recruitment websites.
Never allow strangers to use a personal bank account. Receiving or transferring money for unknown people in exchange for commission can involve illegal financial activity.
Police said residents should treat these requests as warning signs, not normal hiring steps.
A real job opportunity should help a person earn money, not put their savings, identity or bank account at risk.
Scam adverts often copy the language of real recruitment
Fraudulent job adverts can look polished enough to seem credible. They may use common phrases from real recruitment posts, such as flexible hours, remote work, immediate joining or daily commission.
The difference often appears once the applicant responds. Instead of a formal interview or a proper job description, the conversation may move quickly to personal data, payment links or bank account access.
Common warning signs include:
A job offer from an unknown sender with no verifiable company details
A request to pay money before work begins
A promise of unusually high earnings for very simple tasks
Pressure to act immediately
A link to a website that asks for bank information or login details
A request for an OTP, card number or account password
A request to receive transfers and send money elsewhere
Refusal to provide a trade licence or clear company identity
Poorly explained duties or unclear payment terms
Some scams may start with small payments to build trust. A person may be asked to complete simple online tasks, then encouraged to pay a larger fee to unlock higher earnings. Others may use a so-called manager or recruiter to keep the person engaged through messaging apps.
Dubai Police Warn Jobseekers About Fake Part Time Job Scams at a time when part-time and remote work offers are common online, making verification an essential step before sharing any information.
Why personal bank accounts are a major concern
One of the strongest warnings in the advisory concerns bank accounts. Dubai Police urged residents not to let strangers use their accounts to receive or transfer money in return for commission.
This is a central risk in many online job scams. A fraudster may describe the task as payment processing, settlement support, merchant assistance or customer refund work. The wording may sound like ordinary admin, but the activity can involve moving money from illegal sources.
If suspicious money passes through a personal account, the account holder may face questions from banks or law enforcement. The person may also lose access to their funds while the activity is reviewed.
The safest response is to refuse any request to receive funds on behalf of unknown people or companies. A genuine employer should not need a new recruit’s personal bank account to move third-party money.
This article is for general information only and is not legal or financial advice. Anyone who has already taken part in suspicious transactions should contact the relevant authorities and their bank as soon as possible.
Jobseekers are urged to verify before accepting
Dubai Police advised residents to check a company’s identity and licence before accepting employment. In the UAE, legitimate businesses should be able to provide clear registration details and contact channels that match their official records.
Verification should not rely only on a logo, a social media profile or a message from someone claiming to be a recruiter. Scammers can copy branding, create fake pages and use names that resemble real companies.
A careful check may include:
Looking for the company’s official website through a trusted search method
Checking whether the contact details match the company’s public information
Confirming the business licence through official channels where available
Calling the company through a published number, not only the number used in the job message
Asking for a written offer that explains the role, pay, working hours and employer details
Treating vague answers as a warning sign
Jobseekers should also be cautious if the conversation moves away from formal recruitment and into private payment arrangements. A genuine employer should not ask for passwords, OTPs or advance fees.
Paying a recruitment fee is a warning sign
The advisory specifically warned against paying registration or recruitment fees to secure work. Scammers may say the payment is refundable, required for training, needed to open an account or necessary to confirm the position.
Once the first payment is made, victims may be asked for more. A fraudulent recruiter might claim there is a tax issue, a system error, a frozen account or a higher tier of work that requires a larger deposit.
The pattern is designed to keep the applicant paying while believing they are close to receiving wages or commissions.
Residents should treat any demand for money before employment as suspicious. This includes payment by bank transfer, card link, digital wallet, cryptocurrency or gift card. The payment method may vary, but the risk is the same when the offer has not been verified.
Suspicious links can lead to account theft
Dubai Police also warned the public to avoid suspicious links. Fake job adverts often include links to application forms, payment pages or registration portals. These pages may be designed to collect personal data or imitate trusted services.
A common method is phishing. The victim is taken to a page that asks for login details, bank information or a one-time password. Once entered, the information can be used to access accounts or approve transactions.
Other links may download harmful files or direct the user to a fake chat channel where the scam continues.
People should avoid opening links sent by unknown recruiters, especially if the message promises quick income or asks for urgent action. If a job appears to be from a known company, it is safer to find the company’s official website independently and apply through its verified careers page.
What to do after receiving a suspected fake job offer
Dubai Police said members of the public should report suspected job scams through the Dubai Police eCrime platform or by calling 901.
A person who receives a suspicious offer should avoid replying with personal details. If possible, they should keep evidence of the message, including the sender’s number, username, email address, website link and screenshots. This information may help authorities review the case.
If bank details, passwords or OTPs have already been shared, the person should contact their bank immediately. They should also change passwords and review account activity. If money has been transferred or received, they should report the matter promptly.
A calm, quick response can reduce further harm. Delays may give scammers more time to access accounts, request funds or contact the victim again using different identities.
The warning comes as residents seek flexible income
Part-time work remains attractive to many residents who want to supplement their income. Scammers exploit that demand by creating offers that look simple and low risk.
The promise of easy money is often the hook. The fraud may be framed as rating products, processing orders, clicking links, transferring funds, reviewing services or completing online tasks. The work appears convenient because it can be done from a phone.
Authorities have warned that ease and speed should not replace basic checks. If an offer avoids proper hiring steps and moves straight to payment, bank access or personal data, it should be treated as suspicious.
Legitimate employers can explain who they are, what the job involves and how wages will be paid. They do not need an applicant’s OTP. They do not ask for passwords. They do not require a personal bank account to move money for strangers.
Reports should go through official channels
Dubai Police asked residents to report suspicious job offers through official channels. The two routes highlighted in the advisory are the Dubai Police eCrime platform and the 901 call service.
Reports can help authorities identify patterns, review fraudulent links and warn the public about active scams. They can also support people who may already have shared information or sent money.
Residents should avoid confronting suspected scammers or continuing conversations to “test” whether the offer is real. Continuing contact may expose more personal information or increase pressure to pay.
The safer step is to stop communication, preserve evidence and report through the listed channels.
A clear reminder for jobseekers
The Dubai Police advisory gives a simple message. A job offer should not require a person to risk their bank account, savings or identity.
Any offer that asks for payment, OTPs, passwords, private banking details or use of a personal account for third-party transfers should be treated with caution. The same applies to links sent by unknown recruiters and roles that promise easy money with little explanation.
Residents who encounter a suspected scam can report it through the Dubai Police eCrime platform or call 901. Staying alert before responding to an offer remains the best protection against fake part-time job scams.
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