Fraud exposed by fraudsters under the guise of UAE visa amnesty scheme
Since the actual process of obtaining a residency visa is expensive, fraudsters have started luring the gullible.
Under the guise of the visa amnesty scheme launched by the UAE government, the fraud of foreigners, especially Pakistanis, was revealed. According to Khaleej Times, the UAE’s two-month amnesty program begins on Sunday, September 1, allowing illegal residents and overstayers on visit visas to return to their home countries without legalizing their status or incurring fines. While the opportunity to return is being offered, a new fraud has also emerged, in which fraudsters are luring foreigners into their nets by offering fraudulent residence visas at low prices, which has raised alarm. Played.
A few expats living in Jabal Ali and Sonapur have said they have been approached by people promising them a residence visa worth up to Dh5,000, a 35-year-old Pakistani national who is currently overstaying his visa in the UAE. “I was told by the executive of the typing center that if I managed to get a job after legalizing my status, I could continue living in the UAE,” he said on condition of anonymity. When I came out of the typing center, a scammer approached me and started a conversation by offering me tea.”
“The man promised me a residence visa for just 5,000 dirhams, which sounded great, and when I asked for more details about the company and what position he wanted the visa for,” said the Pakistani national. They started to hesitate while offering, which made me wary as I have not been able to see my children for the last 3 years due to my illegal status and now I cannot afford any mistake that would cost me. Repent your actions.”
Similarly, another 39-year-old overstay Pakistani residing in Sonapur was also approached by some fraudsters to renew his residence status and issue a new visa, he said, “My total fine is more than 70 thousand dirhams, Khan. A person named contacted me a couple of times asking me to start a new life, he gave me attractive offers, and he told me that for 8 thousand dirhams all my fines would be cleared and I would be transferred to UAE. Will get a new resident visa to start my life, but I can’t believe it because of his frequent contact, with this new scheme from the UAE authorities I will try to find a job, and then I will stay in this country without any trouble”.
Another resident of Sonapur, an Indian citizen from Tamil Nadu, has been stuck in the UAE for almost a year after his visit visa expired and is trying to find a way to legalize his status. “Over the past few days, as soon as the amnesty period was announced, I was contacted by a few people offering to get me a residence visa at a reduced price of 6,000 dirhams,” he says. But none of them had an office or any proper setup, I heard some people even got caught in this trap”.
Immigration experts warn that these scams are designed to exploit the desperation of overstayers looking for a quick and cheap way to legalize their status, said Mohammad Dawood Shahabuddin of Seven City Document Clearing Services. “Fraudsters are taking advantage of the amnesty period to lure more residents with bogus offers, so people should be careful and only contact authorized agents or direct government officials,” he said. “.
