Six men were arrested Monday after being caught posing as US Army colonels in a recruitment scam in northeast Colombia, according to Colombia’s W Radio.
Norte de Santander |
The con-men posed as US Army colonels and visited security training schools in Cucuta, a city in Colombia’s Norte de Santander state.
The impostors offered students a better quality of life and a competitive salary if they would join the Dubai Army and act as security guards for petroleum projects in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
However, in order to sign up, students were made to pay $160.
Those arrested will be facing charges for use of false documents, breach of trust, and fraud. However, due to the small amount they were accused of defrauding, they are currently out on bail.
In July 2012, the UAE sought to enlist 3,000 Colombian soldiers for their combat experience in counter-insurgency and security.
MORE: United Arab Emirates seeks to recruit 3000 Colombian soldiers: Report
In 2012, a soldier in the Colombian Army was making on average $530 per month while Colombian soldiers in the UAE were making between $2,800 and $18,000 depending on rank.
The influx of Colombian soldiers into the UAE for higher wages prompted Colombia to send a delegation to the Middle East country in an effort to end the exodus of soldiers because the Colombian Army was losing its most experienced combatants.
MORE: Colombia seeks deal with UAE to end soldiers’ exodus