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Offers too good to be true, say officials

RAUL ACEDRE MANILA

Prospective overseas workers have been warned
to be alert for fraudulent online job recruitment
offers.

The Department of Labor said the internet is rife
with such deals, luring applicants with cheap and
fast deployment.

It issued the warning amid an expected explosion
in demand from overseas markets for Filipino labor.

It said unscrupulous individuals and illegal
recruiters could exploit the situation and prey on
gullible applicants.

Up to one million overseas jobs are expected to
come on stream in the next three years, with
Filipinos seen as frontrunners in the market.

POEA deputy administrator Leo Cacdac said there
has been a steep rise in the number of applicants
who seek jobs through the internet and fall prey to
illegal recruiters and scams.

As a precaution, the POEA posted pointers to job
applicants using the internet:

• Read the entirety of the web site. Examine
whether the company name and profile appear
believable. Check for its company profile or the
“about us” page to see its office location and phone
numbers.

• Examine the website design plus all links and
pages available. A legitimate company would not
mind spending a large amount of money to have a
website designed beautifully as the same serves
as its window to the world.

• Take note of the website’s invitations to send
resumes and application papers through postal
mail or drop boxes. Most legitimate web sites
would like you to fill up your resume online or send
them through e-mail.

• Take note of their offers. Beware of “too-good-to-
be-true” salaries and other job perks including
accommodation and bonuses.

• Use search engines (Yahoo, Google, etc) and
look for the company name or topics similar to
those discussed on the web site you have visited.
• Check the domain name of the website to secure
additional information.

• Report to the POEA or other law-enforcement
authorities any illegal recruitment activities
conducted through the internet.

Cacdac said the POEA allows licensed recruitment
agencies to advertise their job orders on their
websites or any online search companies if the
vacancies are covered by manpower requests of
accredited employers.

there has been a
steep rise in the
number of
applicants who
seek jobs through
the internet and fall
prey to illegal
recruiters and
scams

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		A sharp increase in internet ads purporting to offer fast and cheap deployment has alarmed authorities because of the high likelihood that these are illegal and fraudulent.