Thread: FB message from "agent" in Dubai - scam?

Just received this in my Facebook inbox:

FROM : HR Group entertainment Production

Dear BELYNDA

We are an agency which arrange and manage contracts in Gulf area and Middle east for (5* &4*) hotels and booking artists names in music ,dance and entertainment. So If you are an artist looking for nice contract please try to send me a file documents about you ( 2 big photo , passport copy , 5 minutes video clip about your performance ) because I have to submit it to the hotel management . The rates between 120$ to 170$ net for you per day net our commission as agency is 25$ per day.Hotel will arrange transportation, ticket, accommodation, food ,etc…),Contracts Duration Between 2 to 3 months .
Actually we are looking for 25 belly dancers (age between 22 to 32 ) so if you know any body would like to work you can give me her email address and phone no.
Kindly send me your email address and phone no. I will Call You

Hani Chackmajian
Npcc
PO Box 2058
ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
Mobile 00971-50-7819484 email hchacmajian@yahoo.com and
hanic@npcc.ae

Looks like a scam. NPCC = National Petroleum Construction Company. ContactUs

Delete!!

Passport copy?!!! I don't think so! Scam, yes.

Wow, that was so sandwiched in there... photo, PASSPORT, video ..l;,

I received the same message, so checked it out with a friend who works in Dubai, he is legit, and they all seem to ask for copies of your passport, so they can see how old you are ,m::
whether or not he's a good agent, I don't know.

Thanks, Aradia.

I received the same message!

An agency that hires you to perform in the middle east and charges you $25 per day but takes no responsibility for transportation, ticket, accommodation or food? My first, uninformed, take is that you need an agent to deal with this agent... what happens if you get over there and the hotel gives you a closet to sleep in, takes your passport, doesn't feed you? Females hired as entertainment in that part of the world might be expected to understand that sex is included as part of their duties. And why are they taking commission from the DANCER salaries, why not get it from the hotels? This is not tying together for me. And yes, that web site is for a petroleum company... this 'agent' may well have a day job there and doesn't even have his own web site.

I got the first facebook message which I ignored, and then another addressed to me asking me that I please reply in kind either way!

The rates between 120$ to 170$ net for you per day net our commission as agency is 25$ per day.Hotel will arrange transportation, ticket, accommodation, food ,etc…),Contracts Duration Between 2 to 3 months .

Aside from sounding shady does anyone else think the pay sounds too low? $120 a DAY? For how many shows? Minus their $25 fee out of your wages? So $95/day x 6 days a week = $570/week.

Maybe they make you dance your ever-lovin Bella'd butt off all day every day. Do your hotel & food expenses come out of the paycheck, too? What about costuming for 2-3mos? That's a lot of costumes & accessories needed & not a lot of pay to buy new ones with.

I received one, too. The thought of giving a copy of your passport to a complete stranger is outragious! Who knows, if he's legit! I would be too scared to land on a "no-fly-list" or loose my permanent residency or other worse things!
I did post the same question under Bellydance-The rest.

Hello Ladies,

I'm leaving in Dubai for past 8 years.
1. Before giving any passport copy do your home research on this particular company. Any feedbacks form the forums etc.
2. Copy passport required only If you've been selected for that particular job. In order to apply for your visa they will need your passport.
3. There are a lot of freelance agents, who are decent & helpful and yes they do charge commissions sometime it is from the recruiter side sometimes from belly dancer.
4. If you are coming from overseas to work for the contract. It is a must, that recruiter will provide you with following (even if the contract for 3 month): 1. Accommodation
2. Transportation
3. Ticket both ways
4. Salary
5. Medical Insurance.
6. Food
5. If you are coming for an event, nothing above applies (u just discuss your fees).

Please note that agents usually have a lot of references and you have all rights to ask for it.

I hope this information helps.

I also got this message a while back and obviously ignored it..

Thank you Tara_uea for your info!

B