Filipinos are warned about this new employment scam
05/12/2015 – Manila | Filipinos seeking jobs in Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, and United States are warned about the new online scam system that has already victimized at least 187 applicants and at least P700,000.
The figure could be higher according to POEA because other victims are ashamed to reveal their identity.
The warning, which came from the Philippine Consulate General in Toronto, said the scam is offering non-existent jobs particularly as caregiver at Ian Anderson House, an in-resident cancer hospice in Oakville, Ontario.
The news broke-out last March and authorities thought it happened only in Canada without considering other possible countries.
Three applicants from Pampangga reportedly lost at least P4,000 each after they sent the funds to someone’s bank account. The money was allegedly served as registration fee for a special seminar and private job fair for nurses who are interested to work in United Kingdom.
Three days after they sent the money, the contact person disappeared without any trace.
An unnamed hospital in Australia told authorities that at least 15 Filipino applicants called them and asked about the seminar. The hospital said it has no knowledge about the seminar, only to find out later that the hospital name has been used by someone to scam applicants.
In a separate case, a POEA – registered agency that has no job order from Canada was used by scammers to lure people to deposit funds. They used the company’s name to make people believe about the legitimacy of the program.
There are more than P700,000 lost from at least 187 applicants between February to may according to the source and the figure could be bigger.
“Scammers are targeting nurses who are applying to these specific countries because they knew that the salary in these countries are big and applicants are likely to pay whatever it cost”, an employee from POEA who refused to identify herself told TPP.
The agency warns applicants, especially nurses who are applying to the listed countries to beware of this propaganda. There is no such thing as paid seminar according to POEA.
See Also: Emgoldex Scam: Massive Online Gold Investment Fraud Could Hit OFWs Badly
/Fanny Jalacjac/ Assisted Press Manila
