Conmen target teachers with fake school website

A fake school website, which apparently targeted unemployed school teachers from Bahrain and the Gulf, was reported in the UAE.

School teachers seeking employment were reportedly being targeted by con artists who set up a fake school website. They sought to make money by charging the victims visa and immigration formalities through a fake travel agency. They created fake job openings and apparently advertised it to GCC residents.

The fraudsters named the school ‘Americal curriculum De Premier International School (DPIS)’ and claimed 12 Karama Street in Abu Dhabi as its address. However, according to UAE-based newspaper Xpress, there is no such school at the address.  

“They have created a fake school website and posted lucrative job offers before asking unsuspecting applicants to pay for visa and immigration formalities through a fake travel agency. Earlier this year, the conmen sought job applications for the non-existent Howard International School in Abu Dhabi and the Abu Dhabi High College which they claim was located on 5th Sultan bin Khalifa Street,” Xpress reported.

“I knew there was something fishy as the remuneration of Dh17,000(BD 1,746) plus a wide range of perks was unrealistically high for an Indian school teacher. I was asked to pay a total of Dh5,325(BD546) towards work permit and courier despatch fees, residence permit and entry clearance. For family visa, you will have to pay the sum of around Dh9,840(BD1010). This will cover you and your entire family,” Aravinder Saini, a football coach based in Bahrain said.