Visit visa frauds targeting potential Bahrain expats

Staff Reporter

TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Many vulnerable youngsters from South Asian countries, who are potential jobseekers in Bahrain, are increasingly falling victim to visa fraudsters. It is learnt that under the pretext of handing over employment visas “visit visas are sold to many youngsters taking amounts ranging between BD700 and BD1,200 from them”.

Social workers say that the majority of victims only realise the fraudulent act after reaching Bahrain on a visit visa. “However, after falling victim to the scammers they have no other option other than returning home or continuing their stay in Bahrain as an illegal resident.”

Majority of the victims are unskilled workers from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. “Almost all South Asian cities are flooded with fake recruitment agents, who offer visit visas in the name of employment visas to innocent unskilled workers, who pay them huge amounts in their currencies. This is operated by a big racket across South Asian cities.” Speaking to The Daily Tribune, social worker Gangan Trikaripur said majority of the victims are unskilled workers belonging to the hospitality and construction sector.

“Owing to poor financial situations mainly caused by the pandemic, many expatriates are trying to obtain jobs in Gulf countries including Bahrain. They get in touch with many fake recruitment agents through social media platforms and are conned out of money.”

“Among the victims there are a large number of women expatriates as well. They are lured into the trap by offering jobs in the hospitality industry. I know an expat woman, who was offered a week’s visit visa in the name of employment visa, who was later rescued and sent home.”

He said the intensity of the fraudulent act is so high that the scammers are selling visas obtained for BD9 to vulnerable individuals for a minimum amount of BD700. He urged potential expatriate jobseekers to keep a distance from fake online advertisements offering jobs with extremely high salaries. The other major visa scam, according to him, originates from within Bahrain.

“Many sponsors and their agents obtain employment visas and copies are sent to expat jobseekers, who pay huge amounts in return thinking they have been offered employment here. But, these sponsors and their agents would instantly cancel these visas and get the amount refunded from the Labour Market Regulatory Authority.

“The victims only realise their illegal status upon arriving at Bahrain International Airport and they, most often, return home as they have not much options left. There were also many cases of free visa holders being cheated by their sponsors, who cancel visas after taking the entire amount from victims. The victims can’t even file a police complaint as obtaining the free visa by itself is an illegal act.”

The Daily Tribune is awaiting response from Nationality, Passport and Residence Affairs with regard to the steps taken to increase awareness among expatriate jobseekers.