Copy of passport? scam??

I have been offered a job in dubai...

all looks genuine, asked lots of questions etc, however they did ask if i have a photocopy of my passport to obtain the visa... They havent asked for money or anything like that.. im a bit confused now because of the warnings that scammers do that

Hi!

My advice is to go to embassy of the UAE in your country (or at least call) and ask if you really need a visa and if so should you send the passport copy to your employer or should you get the visa through the embassy.
I worked as an au-pair in Norway in 2004-2005 and I got my visa through the embassy and NEVER sent the passport copy to the family. All I sent was a letter and some application forms...

Good luck!

Svetlana
(SvRukina@gmail.com)

I've been in talks with a family for some time and they said when they took in the papers to have my contract approved by the DIRECCTE that they also need a letter of motivation and a copy of my passport to go with the contract materials. I've skyped with the whole family several times and it doesn't seem like a scam (if so it's been a very long con!) but it also seems strange that suddenly they need me to send these things ASAP... (though they hired their last two au pairs through an agency who probably worked as a middle man in collecting all of the materials from both sides so perhaps they genuinely didn't realize that a copy of my passport would be required to go with the contract...). Thoughts?