Abu Dhabi's Judicial Department has issued another warning about a scam where fraudsters post fake advertisements for domestic workers available for low rates. The posts are often accompanied by photos or videos of the maid as well.

People may fall victim to such scams for the following reasons:

1. Lack of awareness: People may be unaware of the licences recruitment agencies require to advertise their services or domestic workers on social media.

2. Demand: Such scammers often exploit seasons where domestic workers are in high demand, preying on the victim's need for help.

3. Lower costs: These scammers advertise maids at a much lower rate than official agencies in order to entice victims.

Such scams can have very harmful consequences:

1. Victims may lose significant amounts of money to the fraudsters.

2. It is difficult to find and prosecute the perpetrators of the crime.

3. The maid advertised may be residing in the country illegally, in violation of residency laws.

Self-protection methods

Residents are often warned of possible scams by the authority through such notices. Surfing the Internet and interacting with social media posts should be done with caution, and official sources should always be double-checked.

It is only legal to recruit domestic workers through licensed recruitment agencies. This is the safest way to ensure that the worker is vetted, has the required permits, and is reliable. Recruitment agencies can be verified on the website of the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE). If residents find agencies on social media, they can also call 600590000 to verify them.