OFW guide: How to spot fake job offers sent via email

Filipinos looking for employment abroad should be wary of offers that are too good to

be true, especially those they receive through e-mail, said Atty. Hans Cacdac, administrator of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA).

 

Cacdac urged job seekers to be cautious in dealing with overseas job offers via email

and take extra steps to confirm their authenticity.

 

While it is not easy to tell a fake job offer from a legitimate one, Cacdac said there are ways to avoid becoming a victim of a scam:

 

(1) Double-check with the POEA.

 

Check with the POEA to make sure that the recruitment agency and the overseas employer

it represents are legitimate. The website’s database allows you to confirm the status of recruitment firms, or you can call the POEA hotline (722-1144 and 722-1155) to verify.

 

(2) Do a background check on the recruitment agency.

 

Watch out for agencies that list only a post office or mail drop address and can only be reached through e-mail or a mobile phone number. Most fly-by-night companies use this technique to avoid being tracked by law enforcers.

 

To hook unwitting applicants, some unscrupulous agencies may list a corporate

address that looks real, only for applicants to find out later that the address is nonexistent and the contact person has gone off with their money. Check the physical address of this agency before you make a commitment.

 

(3) Confirm with the overseas employer.

 

Look up the company’s name on the Internet and check its website. Legitimate companies will certainly have their contact details or list of corporate officers available on their website. If you can, e-mail or call the company to verify the job offer.

 

(4) Be wary of agencies demanding advance payment for services.

 

Unscrupulous recruiters may ask for a placement fee or payment for services such as visa

assistance and embassy interview coaching. Do your homework and find out from the POEA

what fees are applicable in your case.

 

According to Cacdac, the POEA has an agreement with Canadian employers in Saskatchewan, Manitoba, British Columbia, and Alberta that these companies will shoulder the hiring fees, airfare, POEA processing fee, OWWA membership contribution, trade tests, and cost of training for their Filipino employees.

 

As a general rule, job seekers are responsible only for their passport, NBI clearance, birth

certificate, medical examination, and health insurance.

 

Taking these extra steps in double-checking an overseas job offer may involve some time and effort on your part, but it is always better to be certain rather than pin your hopes on a promise that may not materialize.

 

If you happen to be a victim of an overseas job scam, you can help others from making the

same mistake by reporting the incident to the POEA or to law enforcement authorities. - VVP, GMA News