'If too good to be true, it is probably fake, scam' - DMW - CAR warns job seekers against bogus job offers and illegal recruitment

Tabuk City – The Department of Migrant Workers - Cordillera Administrative Region (DMW-CAR) has warned jobseekers, especially aspiring overseas workers, to remain vigilant against bogus job offers and illegal recruitment schemes, stressing that promises of unusually high salaries and fast deployment are often linked to fraud and human trafficking.

Authorities said many applicants easily fall victim when recruiters offer high-paying jobs abroad, quick deployment, minimal requirements, or guaranteed employment opportunities.

In many cases, financial hardship, unemployment, and the desire to support their families push applicants to take risks, making them more vulnerable to deceptive schemes.

According to DMW-CAR Migrant Workers Protection Division chief Rizza Bucang, many victims are deceived because they fail to recognize early warning signs. She urged jobseekers not to act out of desperation, especially when offers appear unbelievably attractive.

“Many applicants fall prey because they fail to spot the danger signs early. We want everyone to know these red flags by heart so they can protect themselves and their families,” Bucang said.

“Always remember: if it seems too good to be true, it probably is. Do not let desperation blind you. Verify first before you trust or pay anything,” she added.

Bucang also identified five major red flags commonly used in illegal recruitment schemes:

• Offers of extremely high salaries that seem too good to be true• Unregistered recruitment agencies or unapproved job orders• Demands for advance payments without proper contracts• Instructions to travel using only a tourist visa• Transactions conducted outside official offices or legal channels

DMW-CAR continues to encourage applicants to verify agencies and job orders through official government channels before applying or making any payments.

Illegal recruitment and bogus overseas job offer cases in CAR

Nationally, the DMW reported a big rise in illegal recruitment and online scam cases in 2025, with complaints increasing from 71 in 2024 to nearly 300 in the first half of 2025, driven by fake recruiters using social media and messaging apps.

In 2025, DMW-CAR recorded over 150 cases of illegal recruitment and bogus overseas job offers across the region, with aspiring OFWs as the primary targets. The victims were reportedly linked to large-scale scams involving fake job opportunities in countries such as Japan, Canada, and Switzerland, including the Sheena Mae Canlas recruitment scheme, where over 50 individuals were reportedly recruited between July and November 2025 for supposed jobs in Japan.

Authorities later confirmed the offers were fake, leading to the issuance of arrest warrants against Canlas, who has been identified in multiple illegal recruitment reports in CAR.

The agency also noted that Baguio City and Benguet likely recorded the highest concentration of victims because many recruitment transactions, seminars, and processing activities are centered in the region’s urban hub. Provinces such as Ifugao, Abra, Kalinga, Mountain Province, and Apayao were also identified as vulnerable areas due to high numbers of aspiring OFWs and limited access to verified recruitment information in remote communities.

In response, DMW-CAR intensified its anti-illegal recruitment campaign through community information drives, pre-employment orientation seminars, and partnerships with local government units across the Cordillera region.