MAKKAH: The Ministry of Labor has threatened to sue media outlets advertising the sale of visas and sponsorship transfers without verifying whether the advertisers are licensed recruitment firms or offices.

It also warned companies and individuals that their data could be stolen by dealing with unverified operators advertising in local media, a local online publication reported recently.

The ministry said potential clients must check to see whether operators are licensed with the ministry.

Only licensed operators are allowed to recruit foreign workers and apply for visas.

The ministry also urged citizens not to announce on social media that they are looking to recruit workers because this could attract criminals seeking to make quick money out of them.

It said that people advertising the sale of visas and other recruitment services face charges under publication laws overseen by the Ministry of Culture and Information.

Abdullah Al-Olayan, Labor Ministry director in Makkah, warned that business owners must be wary of people trying to defraud them by offering various services through the media. The ministry offers top services for those seeking to hire Saudis, he said.

He said they should also not reveal their passwords and user names for access to the Labor Ministry’s website because this could be used to tamper with their companies’ information. They should either personally use the system or have their human resources staff do so, he said.