Dubai GDRFA arrests celebrity social media promoter for selling 40 fake UAE visas
Dubai's GDRFA arrested a well-known social media personality who sold around 40 counterfeit freelance work visas via TikTok and YouTube over two years.
Dubai authorities arrest celebrity influencer over two-year fake visa scheme on TikTok and YouTube
A social media personality with a following in the artistic community sold approximately 40 counterfeit freelance work visas through TikTok and YouTube over a period of roughly two years, according to Google News AE. The General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs in Dubai (GDRFA) disclosed the arrest at a press conference, warning the public against fraudulent visa advertisements circulating on social media platforms.
The GDRFA said it apprehended the suspect in cooperation with Dubai Police. The directorate identified him as a figure well known in the artistic scene of his home country, who leveraged his public profile and reach to market counterfeit UAE freelance work visas to people seeking employment and improved living conditions. Most of those targeted were low-income individuals, not high earners, the administration noted.
Lieutenant General Mohammed Ahmed Al Marri, Director General of the GDRFA, said at the press conference that some fraudulent schemes begin before victims even reach the UAE. Criminal networks, he said, approach people in their home countries and promise visas, residency and job placements in exchange for payments. "Some victims leave their families and children in search of a job opportunity, before falling victim to these networks that exploit their need," Al Marri said, urging those wishing to enter the country to consult only official websites and channels.
Al Marri stressed that the GDRFA does not operate in isolation but as part of an integrated system that includes security and legal authorities and the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE), through joint committees, working groups and specialised electronic and field monitoring teams. He added that the directorate runs technical projects aimed at identifying illegal residents and detecting individuals who promote fraudulent services, and that coordination among relevant authorities strengthens the response to criminal networks.
On legal consequences, Al Marri confirmed that those arrested are referred to the Public Prosecution for investigation and subsequently to a competent court. Penalties under applicable law include fines and deportation. He called on community members, as well as people abroad considering a move to the UAE, to verify the legitimacy and source of any visa or residency procedure before proceeding — and urged anyone who had already been defrauded, including after arriving in the country, to report the matter to the competent authorities without fear.
Major General Dr. Ali bin Ajeef Al Zaabi, Assistant Director General of the Violators and Foreigners Follow-up Sector at GDRFA, provided additional detail on how such schemes operate. He explained that criminal networks sometimes approach social media account holders with large followings and use their platforms to broadcast fraudulent offers. Monitoring and tracking teams activate as soon as suspicious activity is detected, he said.
Al Zaabi noted that criminal networks frequently operate from outside the UAE, targeting victims in their countries of origin before they travel, offering residency or visa facilitation at prices below official rates to make the offer appear credible. He added that fraudsters deliberately seek out low-income individuals in remote areas with limited access to information, exploiting both financial hardship and unfamiliarity with official procedures.
The current case, Al Zaabi explained, began with the detection of a forged document found in the possession of an individual. Investigators traced the document back through the chain — from its holder to those involved in producing and distributing it — and pursued legal action in coordination with relevant authorities. He reiterated that victims who discover fraud after arriving in the UAE should contact authorities immediately: a person who finds that a promised employer or position does not exist, for example, is entitled to assistance from the relevant bodies.
Major General Khalaf Ahmed Al Ghaith, Assistant Director General of the Entry Permits and Residence Sector at GDRFA, also addressed the press conference, emphasising that anyone receiving an offer related to a visa or residency permit should verify its source before sharing personal data or transferring any sum of money.
The GDRFA said it continuously monitors offers issued by unauthorised entities that mislead job seekers into believing unofficial parties can supply visas or employment.
Source: Google News AE