Dubai Police Warn Residents About Fake Visa Scams and Fraudulent Online Ads

Dubai Police have appealed to the public to be careful of fraudulent adverts that began promoting fake visas in exchange for money. The alert, issued by the Anti-Fraud Centre at the General Department of Criminal Investigation, targets ads circulating on social media platforms and messaging apps offering Fake work, residency, and visit visas.

Dubai Police issued the warning on Tuesday, 25 August 2026, through the Anti-Fraud Centre at the General Department of Criminal Investigation. The fraudulent adverts offer work, residency and visit visas and ask for money. These kinds of ads are shown on social media and messaging apps.

Scammers are offering fake visas under the names of unlicensed companies and offices, and in some cases pretending to be official government entities and claiming that they are registered, but they are not registered anywhere. Dubai Police advise that all visa procedures should be completed only through competent authorities or legally licensed offices and advise not to trust unverified intermediaries.

UAE visas can be verified for free on GDRFA Dubai if visas are issued from Dubai, and for the other six emirates, ICP Smart Services can help with visa verification. If a visa is not verified or someone is trying to scam, report that person via the Dubai Police Smart App, the eCrime platform, or by calling 901. Fake visa advertisements may also involve offences covered by UAE cybercrime laws and, depending on the circumstances, other provisions of criminal law in the UAE.

Dubai Police recently noticed the increasing number of advertisements on social media and that ads by fraudsters promise visas, work permits, residency, and short-term visit visas to anyone and ask them to transfer money. Anti-Fraud Centre at Dubai Police’s General Department of Criminal Investigation warned the public to stay alert and avoid such offers. According to the force, fraudsters are publishing adverts that promise visas, work permits, residency, and short-term visit visas.

Dubai police also shared that the scammers are using the names of famous companies and brands, and are sharing an office location that doesn’t exist. Most fraudulent offices do not have any license to provide immigration or recruitment services. Even some advertisers claim that they belong to official entities and use government-style branding and language to convince the public that they are dealing with an official, lawful, and authorized company.

People who are checking such promotional content or advertisements only find them on small, unknown, hidden, or low-traffic web pages instead of mainstream or well-known platforms.

Dubai Police specifically highlighted and warned about social media platforms and messaging applications, the channels where most jobseekers and prospective visitors are searching for jobs. That way, scammers directly target innocent people, so they won’t be able to verify it.  Applicants are mostly newcomers who have never dealt with UAE immigration before and do not have much knowledge.

The force warned visitors and residents not to be misled by promises of visas or jobs obtained through illegal means and that all visa transactions must go through official authorities or licensed offices. People facing complications arising from fraudulent visa transactions may seek immigration legal services to understand the available legal options.

Visa fraud is not new in the Gulf, but the risk is higher because fraudsters now produce polished PDFs, approval letters, and visa “stickers” complete with logos and QR codes. A professional document can easily convince people that it’s an original one because stamps make it look real.

WhatsApp and Telegram group scams are more common because no verification is required to run public advertising and the operators vanish instantly. Along with that, applicants applying from overseas often do not know which UAE authority is responsible for their file, and that gap of knowledge becomes a benefit for the scammers.

The victims of fake visas not only lose their money but also face legal consequences if travelling on or attempting to use it to enter the country. A forged visa can result in denied boarding, refusal of entry, and immigration.

A visa offer is almost certainly fraudulent if the Payment is requested through WhatsApp, Telegram, personal bank transfer, crypto, or an exchange house. Legitimate government fees are not collected this way. Scammers often offer promises of a “guaranteed” visa or claim approval and do not bother much about your profile. But the fact is that an agent cannot guarantee an immigration outcome.

Before paying any company for a visa, check the official UAE licensing register, a DED/DET trade license, or MoHRE’s list of licensed recruitment agencies. Do not pay for a “job placement” or “visa security” fee to an employer. Under UAE labour rules, recruitment costs are the employer’s responsibility, not the workers’.

Do not pay if they are creating urgency and pressure by saying a slot is expiring today or offering a discount for immediate payment. Mostly, the contact channel is a personal number or free email address, not a corporate domain or government portal. The document is provided as a screenshot or PDF only, and the agent asks you to verify it and discourages you from verifying it independently.

In the UAE, Visa verification depends on the emirate that issued the visa, which decides which portal you check. If a visa is issued in Dubai, including anything processed through Amer centers, it can be checked on GDRFA Dubai. A visa issued in other emirates can be checked via ICP Smart Services.

The portal will return the entry permit or residence status and its validity date. If the authority’s own record does not show your visa, it means the document is fake. A QR code, a barcode, or an official-looking header proves nothing on its own. Only the issuing authority’s live record does.

Dubai Police’s Anti-Fraud Centre encouraged people to report it immediately through the Dubai Police Smart App, available on iOS and Android, and the eCrime platform, Dubai Police’s dedicated portal for cybercrime reports, or you can call 901, Dubai Police’s non-emergency call center.