Jobseekers in the UAE report haven been ‘conned’ by fake recruitment agents and ‘bullied’ by bouncers employed by them, according to Emirates247.com.

A fake recruitment racket originating in Sharjah, the emirate directly North of Dubai, has now spread North to Ajman emirate, with offices re-opening or re-locating after being shut down following police complaints.

Emirates247.com spoke to one jobseeker, who was scared away from a recruitment office in Ajman when trying to reclaim a deposit: “These gangs are mostly targeting potential jobseekers on visit visas.”

Another jobseeker reported having been asked to pay Dh200 (£35) as a deposit for applying for a job with a Dh4,000 salary. When told she had got the job, she was asked for another Dh200 for transport to her future office, at which point her suspicions were aroused.

A local shop owner reported bouncers being used to scare away clients with complaints: “When people ask for refund, the office staff take them to a room where bouncers are waiting for them. Fearing physical harm, the victims either remain quiet or simply go away.”