A recruiting agency in Bahrain allegedly conned hundreds of people out of money to take Covid-19 swab tests and pay for their visa after posting numerous job vacancies.

Authorities yesterday afternoon arrested employees in the office and have taken legal steps against them. The fake job advertisements were posted on various social media platforms.

Scores of applicants who lost their money gathered at the location with their job offer letters in hand as MPs and social workers addressed the situation.

Decent Trading in Um Al Hassam tried to con people by asking individuals to pay from BD 20 to BD 50 for Covid-19 swab test and requiring applicants to pay BD 200 for their own visa on instalment bases. In addition to this, applicants were also asked to pay BD 20 as contract fees.

The scam was exposed after MPs received complaints and intimated the police. Scores of applicants took to social media voicing concerns after being duped by the agency. Individuals are now scrambling to get their money and some have even raised questions on how to get their CPR’s back.

Applicants are urged to immediately lodge their complaints at the Nabih Saleh Police Station. Labour Ministry and Labour Market Regulatory Authority officials have warned job seekers not to fall prey to bogus advertisements offering work in Bahrain.

Meanwhile, the Director-General of Anti-corruption and Economic and Electronic Security announced that legal steps had been taken against individuals for posting scam employment advertisements for jobseekers for money without getting a licence from concerned authorities.

In a statement, he said that the advertisements were posted on social media and websites. He called upon the public to report such scam cases by going to the department or call hotline 992.

SOURCE: OMANOBSEVER