WhatsApp Recruitment Scam Guide
How the most common UAE job scam plays out — and exactly when to walk away.
Trust & Safety Team
AVENNIO
The pattern
A WhatsApp message arrives with a generic greeting, a too-good salary, the name of a real UAE company and a request to share your CV. After you reply, a 'HR officer' asks for documents and eventually a payment for visa processing.
Why it works
Scammers use real company names and copy logos. The conversation feels personal because it is one-to-one. Urgency and politeness combine to lower your guard.
Your safe response
Reply once: 'Please send the offer from your corporate email and confirm the role on the company careers page.' If they cannot, stop responding and report the number on the AVENNIO scam tracker.
A note from AVENNIO
This guide is general information, not legal advice. For specific cases, consult MOHRE, ICP or a licensed UAE labour consultant. If anyone asks you to pay for a visa or job, report it on the AVENNIO scam tracker.
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