Dubai Massage Thai Lady Scam

[mattcodes]

I have a friend that went to Dubai 3 months ago after being offered a job in a massage palour in Dubai, perks sounded great, business more reliable than anywhere in Thailand and no living costs. She went for it, lost her 80,000 in savings, in visa fees, work permit fees, (both wp and visa organized by boss of massage palour), and 20k to thai agent, plus flights. On top of that worked her arse off, boss locked the apartment where the 10 girls lived at night (couldnt get out even in fire, apparently to stop them hoaring themsleves) and skinned any sensible salaries they could earn. From what I understand though no funny business, although was nearly raped but it kicked off, most customers good though apparently and she puts that down to a bad customer...

Anyway when she went out initially and paid vast amounts for visa, wp, agent fees, confused... she was apparently promised a 3 month work permit, but end up with a 1month tourist visa, and had to pay overstay fine at Dubai airport on way out after 1.5 months, boss told have to leave now and told her to go Iran to wait (at a friends house for a WP at this point - should of been sorted at start had he kept to word - i believe this was his false probation trick) anyway she had enough and came back to Thailand on her own baht.

Now boss has been calling saying come back little staff now, you think too much blah blah, costs for first 3 months are pricey but then every thai girl that stays more than 3 months does alright, apparently this is supported by a few people that have been there - all girls have apparently lost 50k in first few months, I can see the logical in this a little - you cant scam them too much forever. But her dream, that the boss says "work here a few years, go back thailand you be your own boss, setup your own business" blah blah I dont see attainable, so they might make more the 6k a month than her but <deleted>.. Trying to talk some sense into the girl without absorbing her financially... Any advice? Her incentive for going back is "have to get my money back", "no i have no money, i need go back get my money back" - chasing the loss as it would be in gambling/trading..

Cherry on cake.. Boss says come back now, get flight to Oman (she has to pay her self of course), and wait oman 10 days so I can sort work permit for you to come back Dubai for 2 years, you can stay with my friend in Oman free. Oh.. but I have to organise tourist visa for you for Oman whilst you wait, that will be 10,000 baht. Now I know various sites on the internet arent always up to date, but as far as I can from multiple sources a tourist visa for 14 days for someone of Thai nationality (with passport) is visa-on-arrival about 580baht USD

Anyone know a thai girl that has been bitten by this and hasnt chased the loss that could talk some sense into her??

Interesting angle, the friend that suggested/encouraged it, subsequently acted as agent thai side and made a 20k nicely... maybe its MLM style..

[Livinginexile]

Many people enter Dubai on a tourist visa and then apply for a work permit.

After her sponsor has done all the paper work she would need to leave Dubai and re enter.

Thats why she would have needed to go to Iran, it is one of the popular destinations for visa runs.

I am working in Dubai and Qatar right now, i'll be back in Bangkok about 2 months.

If you would like me to drop in and see if she is ok just PM me her details.

[RedQualia]

Can't be sure of the details, of course, but you offer an interesting comment: "Anyone know a thai girl that has been bitten by this and hasnt chased the loss that could talk some sense into her??

As a matter of principle, one should never chase their losses. Fortunes are lost that way.

When I worked in IT, I would expect any real and legitimate offer of possible employment somewhere to have included travel expenses, etc., for even a job interview. If the company in question can't afford such, then they're not serious, and not a company I would want to work for. Why should the massage business be any different?

Real and legitimate money is made in real and legitimate ways. Anything else is either unreal or illegitimate. Lots of people chase such money, of course. At their own peril.

[mallyrd]

I just can't believe how gullible some people are.

[moe666]

Sometimes there is talking sense into anyone Thai or other wise. Tell her to ask for advance one month and air fare if they will not come thru donot go.These guys are not serious.

[elliss]

I just can't believe how gullible some people are.

i know of a guy from oman ,

who was plying the sois in pattaya ,

for bar girls , who would be interested in working in oman .

as far as i know at least three girls went to oman.

tempted by the oppurtunity to earn many money .

[mattcodes]

Livinginexile,

Yes, I can see that, at this stage the Iran trip for a work permit seems plausible, albeit probably overcharged again, but where has the rest of her money disappeared, she was under the impression the first big whack of cash was securing all of this. From what I understand the boss is full of crap but its easy to sell a dream to someone who aside from some saving has nowt. As for a welfare there Im sure she okay but the idea now to regain the money lost, the original idea was make a lot of money, and dream is being sold as work her a few years go back Thailand rich. I think this is pure exploitation.

[mattcodes]

I think the result will be this, this time round after exhausting her savings and borrowings (not me - cant assist in money burning) from friends/family for next set of visa/wp/flights, she'll will eventual get a promised WP, work her nuts off massaging 6 days a week, be locked in an apartment at night, and make 10-12k a month (after boss "cutting" -as she puts it - "he not like girl make much money"), not exactly the 30k-40k a month promised, although she'll probably be somewhat adjusted off this after sending some home to family. Its a shame as if she had 80k savings plus some borrowings she could of setup something her on own or with a trusted friend, now she aint got a pot to piss in. Love to give this massage parlor boss a kicking..

When I worked in IT, I would expect any real and legitimate offer of possible employment somewhere to have included travel expenses, etc., for even a job interview. If the company in question can't afford such, then they're not serious, and not a company I would want to work for. Why should the massage business be any different?

Because they can get away with it - exploitation, make promises on the phone verbally, use delay and switch and bait tactics, and deliver just enough to make think "well bullocks, ive spent nearly 100k, maybe ill make 12k this month though, might as well stay here now". She hasnt got a contract, neither has any of the girls there, just sold a dream of returning to thailand at the top of the food chain..

Ends rant... Just a warning if anyone hears of thai girls going to work in Dubai, at least the first three months will be significant loss... I'll report back if she does regain her savings, plus some more and sets up her own business her in a year or two... Somewhat doubtful.

[gotlost]

I have seen the girls work two weeks each in Bahrain, Qatar, Dubai, Oman then start the rounds again. I have personally witness these girls exchanging money from these countries that would choke a camel. Majority of jobs in the middle east offered to girls are of this nature. Beware.

[Livinginexile]

Livinginexile,

Yes, I can see that, at this stage the Iran trip for a work permit seems plausible, albeit probably overcharged again, but where has the rest of her money disappeared, she was under the impression the first big whack of cash was securing all of this. From what I understand the boss is full of crap but its easy to sell a dream to someone who aside from some saving has nowt. As for a welfare there Im sure she okay but the idea now to regain the money lost, the original idea was make a lot of money, and dream is being sold as work her a few years go back Thailand rich. I think this is pure exploitation.

Yes it is exploitation but that is par for the course here in the Middle East. Especially with Asian people.

I regulaly have a Thai massage on my trips to Dubai. Next to the Seabreaze Hotel.

The Thai women are escorted to and from their home and any shopping/sightseeing must be done in an escorted group.

But by and large the girls make good money here. The problem most Thai women have is that here there are STRICTLY no "specials" after the massage and I think most girls come here thinking they will get the basic salary PLUS all the "special" money.

Where I go the massage women are mid aged that you wouln't except a special even if it was free! A decent looking women that is willing to do specials (and lets face it, thats 90% of them) would get a lot more money working in Thailand

[7by7]

Not a visa issue, moved.

[mattcodes]

We'll a few people telling her she is nuts now, no one is gonna repay her lost money but maybe she can see a way to working for it again.

I cant remember what it was local currency but it something like 26 sterling a massage per hour I worked it out at the other day, 5-8 customers a day, surely at this rate, the greedy arabs can afford to pay at least non-exploitation salary (or at least cover work permits, visa - perhaps after posting a trust bond for x days). These owners need a kicking... Apparently the owner has told her if she find 10 thai girls that 20+ yrs age (that of course pay their own flights etc..) he'll return her 70k money... gets better by the moment.

[StreetCowboy]

I don't think we can generalise too much from one case; but certainly, immigration agents such as this, and the snakeheads who operate the other side of the fine line, are out and out villains. I know some Thai and Chinese massage ladies who enjoy some degree of freedom - out drinking from time to time, or go for meal. But need to be available to work very long hours.

Seems like the OP's lady got ripped off by a heartless villainous con-merchant.

I suppose it emphasises the importance of trust and good judgement in selecting your friends - and also cynicism and reticence in parting with money...

I'll see if I can actually find out anything helpful...

SC

[orchis]

It's better to get paid for work rather than paying to work.

[ilyelol]

your "lady" is probably one of those cheap massage girls, not a SPA certified massage girl.

Anyone who has diplomas from TOP high end spas all know that when you work abroad, everything is paid for by the company bringing you.

I mean, how dumb do you have to be to think that by giving money to someone to WORK you'll actually make anything? where's the logic in that?

My massage therapist , she worked in 2 or 3 countries, she never had to pay anything.. she has her own shop now... many others have done the same thing..

your "lady" did get scammed, but if she hadn't, she would of given her money away eventually.. people who are not very clever always end up falling for some retarded obvious scam, it's just better the sooner it happens, then they might start thinking things through.

[Kwasaki]

Sounds like your friend will not listen to you anyway.

This reminds me of a program on channel news Asia about a place in Taiwan getting pretty girls from all over asia promising them good work and they ending up being held prisoner as sex slaves.

[mattcodes]

your "lady" is probably one of those cheap massage girls, not a SPA certified massage girl.

If it was my lady then things would be different. Not sure why the quotations are used (ill take a billy colloney attitude to that - if anyone gets that). No presumably not certified, but no need to degrade someone that hasnt had a fraction of the opportunities you've had in your lifetime, and probably still moans a lot less... Let you dwell on that for a second.. Some people trying to make most of what little they have...

I mean, how dumb do you have to be to thiink that by giving money to someone to WORK you'll actually make anything? where's the logic in that?

Some people are trusting, again why the harsh words, I'd take word nieve over dumb. Yes to us the logic is obvious (or absence of), but not everyone has had the education (street-wise or academic) to make such sound judgements..

your "lady" did get scammed, but if she hadn't, she would of given her money away eventually.. people who are not very clever always end up falling for some retarded obvious scam, it's just better the sooner it happens, then they might start thiow iking things through.

Dont quite get your attitude to suggest vunerable people deserve this, maybe your timeshare isnt working out?

[Livinginexile]

your "lady" is probably one of those cheap massage girls, not a SPA certified massage girl.

If it was my lady then things would be different. Not sure why the quotations are used (ill take a billy colloney attitude to that - if anyone gets that). No presumably not certified, but no need to degrade someone that hasnt had a fraction of the opportunities you've had in your lifetime, and probably still moans a lot less... Let you dwell on that for a second.. Some people trying to make most of what little they have...

I mean, how dumb do you have to be to thiink that by giving money to someone to WORK you'll actually make anything? where's the logic in that?

Some people are trusting, again why the harsh words, I'd take word nieve over dumb. Yes to us the logic is obvious (or absence of), but not everyone has had the education (street-wise or academic) to make such sound judgements..

your "lady" did get scammed, but if she hadn't, she would of given her money away eventually.. people who are not very clever always end up falling for some retarded obvious scam, it's just better the sooner it happens, then they might start thiow iking things through.

Dont quite get your attitude to suggest vunerable people deserve this, maybe your timeshare isnt working out?

Here here!

Well said Matt

He sounds like a bitter, twisted old man

[eefoo]

I think the result will be this, this time round after exhausting her savings and borrowings (not me - cant assist in money burning) from friends/family for next set of visa/wp/flights, she'll will eventual get a promised WP, work her nuts off massaging 6 days a week, be locked in an apartment at night, and make 10-12k a month (after boss "cutting" -as she puts it - "he not like girl make much money"), not exactly the 30k-40k a month promised, although she'll probably be somewhat adjusted off this after sending some home to family. Its a shame as if she had 80k savings plus some borrowings she could of setup something her on own or with a trusted friend, now she aint got a pot to piss in. Love to give this massage parlor boss a kicking..

your "lady" did get scammed, but if she hadn't, she would of given her money away eventually.. people who are not very clever always end up falling for some retarded obvious scam, it's just better the sooner it happens, then they might start thinking things through.

The word is HAVE. You both seem like sensible English speaking people. Please use the language correctly.

[random]

I think the result will be this, this time round after exhausting her savings and borrowings (not me - cant assist in money burning) from friends/family for next set of visa/wp/flights, she'll will eventual get a promised WP, work her nuts off massaging 6 days a week, be locked in an apartment at night, and make 10-12k a month (after boss "cutting" -as she puts it - "he not like girl make much money"), not exactly the 30k-40k a month promised, although she'll probably be somewhat adjusted off this after sending some home to family. Its a shame as if she had 80k savings plus some borrowings she could of setup something her on own or with a trusted friend, now she aint got a pot to piss in. Love to give this massage parlor boss a kicking..

your "lady" did get scammed, but if she hadn't, she would of given her money away eventually.. people who are not very clever always end up falling for some retarded obvious scam, it's just better the sooner it happens, then they might start thinking things through.

The word is HAVE. You both seem like sensible English speaking people. Please use the language correctly.

English speaking people? as opposed to English speaking...................................?????????? dogs? cats? fish? trains?

Surely there is no need to add 'people', a simple 'English speakers' would suffice.

[Daewoo]

Is the correct use of the word have or 've really the important thing here??? The correct sentence structure???

I have two ladies I know (well, one cute 28YO Girl, and one 40YO Ugly Woman) who have been recruited to UAE and Shanghai respectively... the 28YO has never been on the game, and worked in a descent spa in Chiang Mai, although probably untrained... the 40YO is an ex 'working girl', who has put that life behind her for many years, and with no real massage experience, but I would have thought too unattractive for human trafficing...

Of course originally I was worried that they both (especially the younger one) had been sold into sex work, even though they both thought this unlikely... Now hearing this, it worries me that they have been scammed for the little money they had saved, while trying to invest in themself to get a better life for their families...

And to the neay sayers... how many Thai's spend hundreds of thousands of baht on education to try and get a better job... how many spend even more to buy a better position in a governement organisation... is it impossible for you to think that maybe this isn't so inconceivable that they would need to cover their own travel expenses...

Every month, I put 80,000THB or more in expenses on my credit card and claim it back from the huge multinational that I work for...

I would like to know more about this scam, and if there are ever positive outcomes...

Cheers,

Daewoo

[Tolley]

This is par for the course in the Gulf.

I knew many girls working in Bahrain who were locked up in hotel rooms with four others and had their passports taken by a mamasan and they used to go over to Qatar to get a new visa every month i think.

These girls were on the game and some of them made reasonable money but they did have to put up with a lot and they did have a lot of expenses.

Sordid business really and most girls after all their expenses didnt really make a lot.

[ilyelol]

your "lady" is probably one of those cheap massage girls, not a SPA certified massage girl.

If it was my lady then things would be different. Not sure why the quotations are used (ill take a billy colloney attitude to that - if anyone gets that). No presumably not certified, but no need to degrade someone that hasnt had a fraction of the opportunities you've had in your lifetime, and probably still moans a lot less... Let you dwell on that for a second.. Some people trying to make most of what little they have...

I mean, how dumb do you have to be to thiink that by giving money to someone to WORK you'll actually make anything? where's the logic in that?

Some people are trusting, again why the harsh words, I'd take word nieve over dumb. Yes to us the logic is obvious (or absence of), but not everyone has had the education (street-wise or academic) to make such sound judgements..

your "lady" did get scammed, but if she hadn't, she would of given her money away eventually.. people who are not very clever always end up falling for some retarded obvious scam, it's just better the sooner it happens, then they might start thiow iking things through.

Dont quite get your attitude to suggest vunerable people deserve this, maybe your timeshare isnt working out?

Don't attack me because your lady has less street wise than a caveman.

I can assure you, im probably a lot more wealthy than you, no need for you to humiliate yourself

[random]

Don't attack me because your lady has less street wise than a caveman.

I can assure you, im probably a lot more wealthy than you, no need for you to humiliate yourself

He has already said it is not his lady so why continue with the banal attempts at humiliation

<deleted> is it with some people on this forum, rearrange this saying 'life a get', if you don't understand you can pay someone to explain it to you considering you are 'considerably richer than us', bragging about wealth on an anonymous forum

[thunder30101]

Hey at least they didnt get charged the falang price lol

[Thongkorn]

Did anybody ses the program on TV in the Uk," I am Slave", Girls bought and sold like pigs or dogs , not my words, words of a young Thai girl lied to, To come to Britain to work as maids, so its not just In the middle east. They take there Visa and passport off them , tell them that they will have problems with the local police , and by the way it has cost £30,000, now you will have to sell your body to pay off the debit.

[StreetCowboy]

Did anybody ses the program on TV in the Uk," I am Slave", Girls bought and sold like pigs or dogs , not my words, words of a young Thai girl lied to, To come to Britain to work as maids, so its not just In the middle east. They take there Visa and passport off them , tell them that they will have problems with the local police , and by the way it has cost £30,000, now you will have to sell your body to pay off the debit.

These TV programmes would do more good if they were shown on Thai TV.

Also, providing information on the consequences of illegal immigration (personal axe to grind) -

By analogy - does anyone remember the fil "Dr Stangelove" - what good is a deterrent if people don't know about it?

But this is not an immigration thread...

People in the villages see the lucky ones that go with an honest agent, and they come back with tales of wealth and plenty - the ones that end up bonded for years and impoverished don't come back to the village - maybe a loss of face thing as well... and so the potential victims never see the possible pitfalls ...

The same thing happens with Chinese, and I assume pretty much every other poor nationality - the Bangladeshi labourers in Dubai, for example. Deceived and bonded into labour in slave conditions for a pittance by unscrupulous villains working together in both countries - the bedrock of DUbai's success....

SC

SC

[StreetCowboy]

...

I can assure you, im probably a lot more wealthy than you, no need for you to humiliate yourself

What a great example to us all.

I shall remember this quote for as long as - well whenever - as proof that money is a poor indicator of value

SC

I suppose we are both lucky that we grew up in a society where stupidity is no grounds for disenfranchisement, and arrogance no grounds for execution