Saudi Arabia: New Skill‑Based Work Permit System Unveiled

A Dubai-based Indian national has been accused of orchestrating a ₹4 crore work permit scam that defrauded over 300 young job seekers across India. According to reports, the accused lured victims with promises of lucrative jobs in the Gulf region under fraudulent work permit schemes.

The scam involved collecting large sums—ranging from ₹70,000 to ₹1.5 lakh—from each individual in exchange for supposed employment and visa assistance for countries like the UAE, Oman, and Qatar. Victims were mostly from economically weaker regions of India and were enticed through social media advertisements and referrals.

Investigations revealed that the promised job offers and visas were either fake or never materialized. When victims tried to follow up, the accused reportedly became unreachable or gave misleading responses. Multiple complaints have since been filed in various states, and law enforcement agencies have launched a coordinated investigation.

Authorities have issued alerts urging job seekers to verify credentials of overseas recruitment agencies and avoid upfront payments without proper documentation. Interpol assistance has also been sought to track the accused, believed to be operating out of Dubai.

The case underscores the growing concern over international job fraud schemes exploiting India's youth and highlights the need for stricter regulatory oversight of overseas recruitment.