POEA warns fake online illegal recruitment anew

Manila, Philippines – Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) Undersecretary Bernard Olalia during a press briefing on Wednesday reiterated its warning to the public to be careful of online job scams.

To stop this scammers’ operation and stop them from deceiving citizens, Olalia said the POEA has identified Facebook pages and have coordinated with Facebook manager to remove scammer pages.

“Ang POEA ay naglabas ng kaukulang mga labor advisory na identify po natin ang mga scammers facebook page, tayo po ay nakipag-ugnayan din sa manager ng Facebook upang tanggalin o i-delete ang mga pages po na yan, mga post na yan upang hindi na po makapag-loko,” he said.

He mentioned that in December, the POEA in partnership with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) conducted an online Job Fair in which links were posted on their website as a means to counter illegal recruiters in their scheme of using the agency’s logos.

“Ang POEA po mismo ay nag manage young job fair online na yan na kung saan ay marami pong na-hire on the spot na mga OFWs po natin katulong po yung mga licensed recruitment agencies natin na nag-facilitate during this online job fair,” he added.

Last month, POEA said that they received reports from the Embassy of New Zealand of illegal recruitment activities involving persons based overseas using the name of established companies in New Zealand to deceive unsuspecting Filipino job seekers.

“Someone who introduces himself as a representative of his company was recruiting Filipino workers for supposed vacant positions in its branch in New Zealand. The modus operandi involves asking money from the victims supposedly for visa processing as well as for other administrative course,” the report said.

To identify whether a recruitment agency or not, the public can enter or search the agency’s name at the POEA websits (www.poea.gov.ph) to check if it has a good standing status.

How to spot illegal recruiters?

- Immediately asks for placement fee or any other fees without issuing receipts

- Promise easier ways of flying abroad

- Immediately require medical examination or training even without cited employer or contract

- Have informal transactions in public places like restaurants, mall etc. and not in the office of a licensed agency

- Do house-to-house recruitment

- Not provide enough information regarding the job application

- Tell that they have direct employer and that it is not necessary to undergo POEA protocols

- Give promises of easier way to go abroad only using tourist or visit visa

- Unable to show employment or working visa

- Introduce themselves that they are an agent of a recruiting or connected to a travel agency or training center agency but unable to show any valid IDs

- Encourage applicant to recruit others so that they can go abroad the quickest way

- Not able to show enough and correct information regarding themselves like complete name or address

- Promise to process the applicant’s application at the POEA

POEA urges the public to report this kind of illegal recruitment schemes and any suspicious employment scams to POEA Operations and Surveillance Division by sending an email at poea_airb_osd@yahoo.com or contact the number 8722-1192.

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