Manila: Up to 7,000 scam job posts in the Philippine were taken down from Facebook, an official said Tuesday.
The move was taken in cooperation with the local office of the social media giant.
Undersecretary Hans Leo Cacdac, the Officer-in-Charge of the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) in the Philippines, told local media he has also shuttered a "consultancy services" office in Quezon City for perpetrating job scams and charging exorbitant fees for nonexistent overseas employment opportunities.
The said consultancy services agency was implicated in offering fraudulent jobs in Italy and Malta.
Cacdac spearheaded the closure of Legal Connect Travel Consultancy, also known as Legal Connect Travel Services, in collaboration with the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Office of Senator Raffy Tulfo.
Surveillance
The operation followed a month-and-a-half-long surveillance period to validate three received complaints.
The complainants, now under DMW protection, disclosed making initial payments of Php85,000 ($1,512) each. According to Cacdac, the agency falsely promised jobs in Italy for agricultural workers and caregivers, charging applicants between Php250,000 to Php380,000 ($6,760).
Website: https://nbi.gov.ph
Compile evidence: Take screengrabs, collect all pertinent information, such as the scammer's contact details, messages exchanged, and any records of financial transactions as part of your documentation.
Report suspicious recruitment activities to the Operations and Surveillance Division via email at osd@poea.gov.ph.
Similarly, they offered supposed positions in Malta for hotel workers, demanding payments ranging from Php200,000 to Php250,000 ($4,447). Notably, illegal recruitment involving three or more victims is considered a large-scale syndicate, punishable by life imprisonment.
Cacdac, a lawyer, said they intend to file a case with the Department of Justice for investigation and emphasised plans to press charges against both employees and the owner of the consultancy.
Financial assistance
The DMW, utilising its Aksyon Fund, will provide financial assistance to victims of illegal recruitment, assisting in the recovery of unlawfully paid amounts. Additionally, the DMW will support victims seeking future overseas employment opportunities.
In light of these incidents, Cacdac issued a warning to those seeking online overseas jobs. revealing that the DMW Surveillance and Operation Division, in collaboration with Facebook, has taken down around 7,000 illegal recruitment posts since last year.
He urged job applicants to exercise caution, verifying the physical existence of the recruiting entity, checking for DMW licensing, and ensuring proper documentation processes through the department.
