Tuesday, May 21, 2024 | Today's Newsletter | Login
Facebook job scam probed by Philippines
The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) has warned Filipino workers in Hong Kong against dealing with a recruitment agency offering jobs in Canada.
POEA Administrator Hans Leo Cacdac said the Canada jobs offered by Yamsuan and Associates Overseas Employment Services Ltd./Pacific Management Services Ltd. are nonexistent.
He advised applicants to be more vigilant and discerning in dealing with recruitment firms.
“Scammers with tempting job offers are out there, waiting to pound on unsuspecting applicants who are willing to part with their hard-earned money for a chance to work overseas,” Cacdac said.
Citing a report from the Department of Foreign Affairs Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers’ Affairs (OUMWA), Cacdac said Yamsuan and Associates has been posting ads in English newspapers in Hong Kong targeting household service workers for supposed jobs in Canada.
“The advertisement says the agency can help them find work in Canada and invites them to an orientation in its office,” the OUMWA said.
Yamsuan & Associates on its website states that it is Alberta, Canada’s leading employment service providing industry and business with the right people; and overseas workers with great opportunities. “We have a reputation for excellence and we mean to further that distinction.”
“As with our sister affiliate in the Philippines, Great Alberta Overseas Employment Services, we’re made up of management professionals who are proven in business and government. Our goal is to provide you with exceptional one-on-one personalized service from first contact to deployment and beyond.”, its website states.
Cardac told Philippine media that a group calling itself Canada Immigration had “friended” him on Facebook and offered him a job overseas.
Cacdac is now having Canada Immigration investigated for illegal recruitment online.
“They sent me an invite on Facebook. They posted unrelated jobs without the benefit of a recruiter’s license so I told them: ‘Hoy, illegal recruiter!’” Cacdac said in an interview.
“I have already forwarded their name to our anti-illegal recruitment branch.
We will look into their Facebook page and see if we can build up a case for violation of laws on recruitment,” he added.
He warned jobseekers about illegal recruiters who were using online networking sites like Facebook and Twitter to victimize unsuspecting job aspirants.
“They thought they could go around the law against illegal recruitment by going online and setting up Facebook pages or tweeting about job offers without going through the right process,” he said.
Last year, The Fraser Health authority warned Filipinos not to fall for a recruitment scam offering jobs at B.C. hospitals.
“We have recently received reports of a phishing scam posing as Fraser Health recruitment and asking for funds for an interview/training fee in the Philippines,” said a statement issued by the health authority which serves than 1.6 million people including residents from Burnaby to Hope to Boston Bar.
“Please do not respond or send funds if you receive an email like this, it is a scam. Fraser Health would never ask for funds tied to an interview process or recruitment. This phishing email has been reported to local authorities,” the authority said.
The inducements offered by the fake company are very tempting to many people looking for overseas employment, according to Cacdac.
The emails say applicants will not be charged a placement or processing fee and the cost of the air fare and work visa will be paid by the employer.
But the catch is they have to pay 3,750 pesos (US$88) for “Canadian Embassy Interview Coaching” plus medical tests which cost up to 5,000 pesos, the POEA say.
“Victims are spending hard-earned money in pursuit of non-existent jobs,” Cacdac said.
Cacdac is urging job applicants who received recruitment emails like these to forward them to [email protected] for verification and action by the POEA and police.
Leave a comment
