A new electronic fraud targets domestic workers by threatening them with a “violation and investigation”

Fraudsters have resorted to using phone and video calls bearing the logos of fake official bodies to trap domestic workers, by exploiting their fear of deportation or loss of residency and work, to extract their personal data or sums of money in deceptive ways that make them believe that they are official procedures.

Fraudsters exploit the ease of access to video calling applications and the spread of smart phones to create convincing visual and audio tricks that make victims believe that they are dealing with an official body, while the lack of awareness of some domestic workers about the latest methods of electronic fraud and their belief in any official appearance makes them an easy target for these criminals, which makes it easier for them to obtain the information they seek or sums of money under threat.

While the owners of domestic worker recruitment offices reported that they are receiving increasing complaints from workers who receive phone calls and videos from people claiming to be from the police or official bodies, and through the call they ask to send photos of IDs or specify the location of residence, or to transfer sums of money via bank transfers, to settle a fake “case.” In other cases, the victim is forced to open electronic links sent by the fraudsters, and these links are used to steal identity data and bank accounts.

For her part, an employee at a domestic worker recruitment office in Fujairah, Mona Ahmed, said that some workers handed over their information and actually opened the sent links, after receiving convincing video calls, in which the caller showed a card or documents bearing false official logos, stressing that fear, language barriers, and lack of awareness of official procedures facilitated the implementation of these plans.

She pointed out that most of the workers newly arriving to the country do not have the minimum technical knowledge or awareness of modern fraud methods, which makes them easily believe everything that appears official or is related to security or government agencies, especially when phrases are used, such as: “investigation” or “legal procedure” and “residency violation,” so they imagine that ignoring the call may lead to their deportation or punishment.

She pointed out that there are workers who deal with these calls with extreme confusion, as they enter into bouts of crying or fear of losing their job, so they respond immediately to financial demands or to open links sent to them, without consulting their employers or returning to the offices through which they were recruited, which gives the fraudsters a wider space to carry out their operations without resistance or suspicion.

In addition, the owner of a worker recruitment office, who requested to remain anonymous, confirmed that fraudsters exploit the psychological factor of vulnerable groups. The call begins with a firm, official tone that makes the other party feel that he is facing real authority. Then they gradually move to the stage of threat or emotional persuasion, such as claiming that there is a “report” or “case” that requires immediate settlement to avoid imprisonment or deportation.

He explained that fraudsters use deliberate techniques to confuse the victim, such as asking her to carry out urgent instructions such as opening an electronic link, photographing the passport via camera, or transferring a sum of money, to confirm her “innocence,” adding that the rapid response to these instructions mostly occurs as a result of technical ignorance and fear, not out of complete conviction.

For her part, citizen Asma Ali Al Hammadi narrated that she noticed severe disturbance in her domestic worker after she received a video call from a person wearing a police uniform, who was speaking to her in incorrect English, and asking her to send a copy of her passport “to verify the validity of the residency,” noting that the worker was about to carry out the instructions had it not been for the family’s intervention at the last minute.

She said that the caller used a background bearing the police logo, and the name “Police” appeared on the call screen in a false form, while the text of the messages sent from the same number was accompanied by the word “Police,” which made the worker believe that the call was actually coming from an official security agency.

Resident Agadir Abdullah said that her worker received a similar call, in which the caller told her that there was a “report from her former employer” and that she was threatened with deportation within 24 hours if she did not respond. She explained that the worker became panicked, for fear of losing her residency, before it became clear that the number was international and the call was entirely fraudulent.

For her part, Carmen (a domestic worker of Asian nationality) said that she received a phone call from a man who informed her that it was from an official body, and asked her to transfer 500 dirhams immediately, to avoid a “legal violation,” adding that she quickly informed her sponsor to help her in the transfer process, but the latter warned her that what she was being exposed to was an attempt at electronic fraud, and told her not to respond or share any data with the caller.

Carmen indicated that the caller continued to send threatening messages, demanding sums of money to settle the “alleged case” via different numbers, which caused her fear and ultimately prompted her to inform the recruitment office, to take the necessary action, while changing her phone number was the best solution.

Citizen Abdullah Mohammed Al Shamsi stated that his domestic worker received a video call during which the caller claimed to be a police officer, and asked her to transfer an amount of 1,000 dirhams to settle an “alleged report.” He also asked her to open a link he sent via message to save the “identity confirmation document.” It later became clear that the link was a gateway to stealing her data.

In addition, Legal Advisor Asawer Al Mansouri confirmed that Federal Law No. (34) of 2021 regarding Combating Rumors and Electronic Crimes criminalizes impersonation and electronic fraud, noting that Article (40) imposes prison sentences and financial fines that may reach one million dirhams on those who fraudulently seize the funds or data of others via information networks.

For its part, the Fujairah Police General Command called on community members to be wary of video calls and suspicious links, stressing that security authorities do not request money or bank data via phone or messages, and that verifying the caller’s identity through official communication channels is the correct behavior. It also called for immediate reporting of any fraud attempts through official platforms.