A Dubai job. ₨ 50,000 visa fee first. Then no one answers.
Scammers exploit unemployment with overseas job offers. First a visa fee, then a medical fee, then they vanish.
Finding a job in Pakistan is hard. Going overseas is harder. Scammers know that young people grasp at any opportunity.
A typical scam starts on Facebook or WhatsApp:
"50 openings at a reputable Dubai hotel chain. Salary AED 4,000/month + free accommodation. Pakistani passport holders only. Interview on WhatsApp."
The "interview" is conducted by a professional-sounding "HR officer." Everything goes well. Then they say:
"Congratulations! Please deposit ₨ 50,000 for visa processing — it's refundable."
Once you send the money, they ask for a "medical test fee." Then a "training fee." Then the phone goes dead.
In real overseas hiring, you don't pay
This is the most common mistake in Pakistan. Remember:
- A real employer sponsors the visa, the tickets, and the medical exam.
- They will only ask you for your passport and documents.
- If anyone is asking for a "fee," it is a scam.
Yes, you may pay official fees for things like a passport or an approved medical test — but those go to the relevant authority directly, not to an "employer" or an "agent."
How to verify
Most countries regulate overseas hiring through a licensing system. Before you pay anyone:
- Find the official regulator that licenses overseas employment in your country.
- Look up the company name that has offered you the job.
- If they're not on the licensed list, it's a scam.
If you've already paid
Save everything — bank statements, WhatsApp screenshots, the original job ad. File a report with a cybercrime authority. Cases like this are pursued, and the evidence trail matters.
Has this happened to you or someone in your family?
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