MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) on Monday warned jobseekers against fake job offers posted on social media platforms.
The labor department issued the warning following a report from a jobseeker named “Mary” who claimed to have been scammed by a certain Arthur Villena on Facebook.
The jobseeker said that she found the job posted on a Facebook page named “DOLE Job Assistance-Local and Abroad” where several jobs in international destinations such as Canada, Australia, Singapore, London, are posted.
Local jobs in Calabarzon and Mimaropa open for nurses, caregiver, managers, and restaurant staff, among others, are also posted on the page.
Mary called the number (0935-743-0054) posted on the FB page in hopes of scoring a local-based job and was asked by the man claiming to be Villena to send a P1,000 reservation fee.
Upon sending the payment, Mary said she was asked by Villena to visit the DOLE Central Office in Intramuros, Manila for her job application.
But when Mary arrived at DOLE, Villena was not in sight, prompting the jobseeker to report the incident to the DOLE Information and Publication Service (IPS) where it was found that there is no “Arthur Villena” among the official roster of employees of the labor department.
The said Facebook page has since been reported to avoid more cases of scams victimizing jobseekers, DOLE said.
The DOLE reminded jobseekers to only seek for employment opportunities at the labor department’s official website www.dole.gov.ph, and the PhilJobNet – www.philjobnet.gov.ph for local job posting.
For overseas job postings, jobseekers may visit the website of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) at www.poea.gov.ph.
Jobseekers were also aged to verify licensed and accredited recruitment agencies in the country to avoid falling prey to scams. /jpv