ABU DHABI // Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi has warned doctors not to be fooled by a scam promising them jobs at the medical campus.
A fraudulent email is circulating, congratulating medical professionals on their successful appointment at the emirate’s flagship hospital and asking for a deposit to finalise the recruitment process.
“It’s unfortunate that large corporations are targeted with this type of fraudulent activity,” said a CCAD spokesman. “We are in direct contact with those who have been affected and have reported issues to us.”
One doctor, who asked not to be named, was sent an email with a fake job offer at the hospital on Al Maryah Island.
It read: “Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi congratulates you over your success. This is an affirmation that your experience and qualifications were found successful for the requirements of Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi.”
The recipient was asked to review the “offer” and send back a scanned copy of the acceptance page. He was then asked to contact a travel agency for acquisition of “necessary travelling papers” and work and residence permit papers.
It promises “any expenses” incurred during the registration process will be reimbursed at a later date.
To make the offer appear to be authentic, the email said it was in line with the “expatriate statuary law of UAE in compliance with the UN terrorism act” and it promises the recipient orientation and training when they arrive.
On further inspection, the website, telephone number and email addresses are fake.
The doctor was suspicious to be offered any job without any kind of interview and passed the email to The National.
Another “offer letter” promised its recipient a hefty monthly salary, luxury accommodation at the “hospital’s staff estate” – which does not exist – business or first class travel, entertainment allowance, recreation expenses and spending money for holidays among others.
The CCAD spokesman said he was aware of the scam and had taken steps to stop fraudulent activity. The clinic cautioned jobseekers against being drawn in by the tactics.
The spokesman said: “We take these matters very seriously here at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi.
“We’ve taken action in our legal, communications, IT and HR functions to address this issue. In addition, we work with external parties to ensure sources of these fraudulent activity are dismantled.”
He urged anyone who had been sent these emails to contact the hospital’s recruitment department.
So far, the hospital has received more than 9,000 candidates for 182 physician roles.
The flagship 364-bed hospital, developed by Mubadala Healthcare, a unit of Mubadala Development, is now fully operational.
jbell@thenational.ae
