Dubai Police have warned residents about part-time job fraud after a young man was unwittingly recruited to launder money for a criminal gang through his personal bank account.
The case involves a man identified only as ‘S’, who responded to a remote work advertisement on social media. He was told he had been accepted for the role on a preliminary basis.
The fraudsters posed as an external financial services company and asked ‘S’ to open a bank account in his name, or to use an existing one, for what they described as administrative purposes. Money began arriving in his account in varying amounts, and he was instructed to transfer it quickly to other accounts, reportedly to settle transactions or process client payments. He received a commission for each transfer.
Dubai Police said: ‘With each transfer, he was promised continued work and a permanent position.’
‘S’ was called in for questioning after police reviewed the bank transfers. He said he had not known he was working for a gang and had been following what he believed were legitimate instructions.
How part-time job fraud works
Dubai Police said this type of fraud typically begins with an advertisement promising quick income for simple tasks. Once a person applies and is accepted, they may be asked to pay registration fees or account-activation charges, or to hand over personal and banking details.
In some cases, victims’ accounts are used for fraudulent transactions without their knowledge. The nature of the scheme means the victim risks both financial loss and legal liability for crimes carried out by the gang.
What UAE law says about money transfers of this kind
Under Federal Decree-Law No. 10 of 2025 on Anti-Money Laundering, any person who knowingly transfers or converts proceeds of crime to conceal or disguise their illegal origin commits money laundering. The penalty is imprisonment of up to ten years and a fine of between Dh100,000 and Dh5 million.
Corporate offenders face heavier penalties. Under the same law, legal persons whose representatives, directors, or agents commit money laundering on their behalf are liable for fines of between Dh5 million and Dh100 million, according to the UAE Ministry of Economy and Tourism.
The critical point for anyone in a situation similar to ‘S’ is that a lack of awareness does not automatically shield a person from prosecution. Whether criminal intent can be established is a matter for investigators and courts, but involvement in the transfers is enough to trigger questioning.
What Dubai Police are advising
Dubai Police have issued five steps for the public to follow.
Verify the legitimacy of any party offering part-time work. Deal only with officially accredited institutions. Do not share personal or banking information with unverified parties. Do not transfer money in exchange for a job offer.
Anyone who receives a suspicious approach should report it through the eCrime platform or call 901 for non-emergency cases.
