Q&A with Dubai journalist Mazhar Farooqui: Life of a scam buster

Multi-award-winning investigative journalist Mazhar Farooqi.

One man's investigative reports have led to the prosecution or legal action against more than 250 individuals. His name? Mazhar Farooqui. The Dubai-based multi-award-winning investigative journalist has recently launched his new book, "The Maz Files: Scoops, Scams and Showdowns". In it, Farooqui offers a raw look into his life, sharing stories of chasing conmen, exposing scammers, and conducting daring undercover operations. In an exclusive interview with Expat Media, Farooqui talks about his journey, marked by courage, tenacity, and an unwavering commitment to the truth, to uncover untold stories of deception. He shares his thoughts in this unfiltered Q&A:

Tell us about your growing up years.

I was born and raised in Lucknow, the culinary gem of India, a city steeped in history and culture. As an only child with many cousins, my childhood was never short of fun. We hosted plays where I would write the scripts and act, with our extended family coming to watch these ticketed events.

What made you become a journalist?

As a teen, I used to freelance for various newspapers back home, but I never considered journalism as a career until a wave of communal violence shook my city. At the time, I was pursuing a degree in commerce and noticed the local media peddling false narratives as truth. One particularly violent night, with no electricity and a menacing curfew outside, we huddled together in the dark. It was then that I made a vow to myself: I would become a journalist, but not just any journalist. I would pursue the truth with unwavering dedication and never settle for mere stenography or half-truths. Before long, I joined a local magazine where, short of selling the magazine myself, I handled everything from reporting and editing to page-making, production, and overseeing printing. It was a tremendous learning experience.

What brought you to the UAE?

I was working at The Times of India in Lucknow when I was offered the opportunity to work for an upcoming tabloid by the Gulf News. Newspapers in the UAE at that time were hefty beasts, weighing up to a whopping two kilograms. Classifieds alone spanned 104 pages, while the business and sports sections each ran a formidable 12 pages. Glossy, colourful pages adorned the entire newspaper, which included weekly magazines and supplements, from property and cars to showbiz and fashion. Advertisements practically leaped off the pages, often requiring you to flip through fifty pages before reaching the content panel. However, the mere mention of investigative journalism would cause editors to roll their eyes in disbelief: ‘This is the UAE, Maz. You can’t do that kind of thing here." I am proud to say that I laid the groundwork for investigative journalism in this part of the world.

We all have life-altering experiences. Tell us about yours.

Once I was implicated in a bogus defamation case for a story and spent a night in lockup. The ordeal was harrowing, but what struck me most was learning that my parents and wife had slept on the floor in solidarity.

What is the most unique story of your life that not a lot of people know about?

Some of the best stories from my career never made it to the pages of newspapers. Yet, their secrets will soon be unveiled in my forthcoming book, "The Maz Files." Among the published exposes, one particularly memorable instance stands out: the case of a man presumed dead who was not only very much alive but actively engaged in scamming unsuspecting individuals. This individual had orchestrated his own fake demise, complete with staged photographs of himself in a coffin and obituaries circulated in his name. Despite the elaborate facade, he was alive and well, swindling traders out of millions. I took it upon myself to expose his deceitful scheme to the world. It was great fun,

What is your number one priority?

Ensuring accuracy.

Did you always want to be a journalist, and more specifically, an investigative journalist?

It might surprise many to learn that my journey began as a lifestyle journalist. While I dabbled in occasional investigative pieces, it wasn't my primary focus. My beat revolved around showbiz, fashion, and food. Even upon arriving in the UAE, my role was as a leisure editor. However, it didn't take long for me to realize that amidst the chatter about food, fashion, and fast cars, there were countless untold stories waiting to be unearthed. This was in the era before TikTok and Instagram dominated the scene. Despite the noise, there remained a void in coverage for these overlooked narratives, either due to the challenges of deep diving required or the looming specter of censorship and defamation laws. So, I decided to step forward and raise my hand to shine a light on these neglected stories. I was drawn to investigative journalsim as it was an uncharted territory in the UAE

How has your job changed your life?

My stories have irked quite a few folks. If someone were to cause me harm, it'd be hard to figure out who's behind it, which is a bit unsettling. But jokes aside, I've become the go-to person for people. They seek me out, hoping I can help with their problems. Thankfully, more often than not, I'm able to assist them, and that's a truly humbling experience.

What do you love most about your job?

The best part of my job is decoding clues and uncovering modus operandi. But what I love most is seeing the impact of the stories I uncover and knowing I had a hand in it.

When you are following a lead or doing a story, what is your process?

When I pursue a story, I first pitch it to my editor along with a rough timeline for completion. Then, I dive into the information, sorting through it to assess credibility. It can be overwhelming with the sheer volume of documents, personal findings from multiple visits, conversations, and official records. So, I filter out what's backed by facts and present it coherently. However, I always reserve something—a technique I've developed called "Hold the Aces"—for potential follow-ups and to protect myself against legal issues. It's not perfect, but it gets the job done...

Tell us about the notable awards you have received.

The inaugural Sharjah Government Communication Award for Investigative Journalism (2013), The Karpoor Chandra Kullish International Award for Excellence in Print (investigative) Journalism (2014), Trace Prize for Investigative Reporting (2020).

What’s the best career advice you’ve ever gotten?

Don’t get overly attached to a story.

What are some things you’ve learnt over the past few years as a journalist?

The significance of cultivating relationships, tenacity in pursuing stories, the necessity of fact-checking, and the value of patience to ensure accuracy over haste. ALSO READ: Meet Dubai's fearless journalist chasing conmen

What’s one of the biggest challenges you have faced so far?

Sources retracting information, the looming threat of defamation lawsuits, and even personal safety concerns due to threats encountered during the course of my work

What was the most memorable story you have ever written and why?

I once delved into the depths of a multi-million dollar recruitment scam spanning three continents. This deceitful operation, operating under the guise of a legitimate recruitment firm boasting 33 million registered users, impersonated officials from multinational corporations in fraudulent telephone interviews. Victims, misled into believing they secured a job, were coerced into paying exorbitant fees for verification and other bogus charges, on top of the initial activation fee paid for the job on the fake site. To infiltrate this racket, I crafted a deliberately dreadful CV, boasting about being the worst chef with fake degrees and abysmal culinary skills. As anticipated, I started receiving job offers. Upon exposing this scam, law enforcement swiftly cracked down, resulting in the arrest of all involved parties.

Tell us the worst thing that happened to you at work. Or the worst enemy you made while doing your job.

When I was told that my daughters were on a hit list. Worst enemy could be this guy who calls from untraceable phone numbers, every few days offering to kill me. What I have done to rattle him I don’t know. I don’t think he’s serious.

What has been the biggest accomplishment of your life or career?

One significant achievement in my career is that my investigations have led to the prosecution or legal action against over 250 individuals. However, the most rewarding accomplishment is reuniting mothers with their children, restoring hope where it had been lost. There's nothing more fulfilling than knowing my work has made a meaningful impact on people's lives.

What made you write your debut book “The Maz Files: Scoops, Scams and Showdowns”?

Because it was about time. Also because I wanted to leave a mark, and long after I'm gone, when folks say there's no investigative journalism in the UAE, someone can point to my work and say, "Hold on, there was this guy who really shook things up."

What’s your favourite part about it?

A section called "Evil Geniuses" where I have curated the stories of 13 devious and insidious scammers some of whom I encountered in person.

When and where can people get a copy of the book?

Online and hopefully at book stores this August.

Any exciting things happening for you within the year or in the coming years?

I'm looking forward to completing my second book this year—a fast-paced thriller set in Dubai titled "Myra." Additionally, I'm working on another project, a dystopian novel titled "Hell Hath No Fury."