The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) issued a statement warning aspiring overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) against fraudsters who are offering jobs in the UAE but do not provide valid working visas.
DFA said the suspects have a recruitment network in Pampanga and Pasay City in the Philippines, Dubai in UAE, and Erbil in Iraq. These individuals target aspiring OFWs by telling them they can work as household service workers abroad.
Aside from the UAE, these individuals are also offering job vacancies in Turkey and other European cities.
They dupe their unsuspecting victims by promising them opportunities in these countries but would end up in Iraq.
The foreign affairs department has also warned applicants to be mindful of early signs of fraud which are as follows:
- Applicants are not provided copies of their visas to the intended destination
- Vague information regarding the nature and conditions of the work offered by the recruitment agency
- Applicants are not in control of their own identification documents such as IDs or passport, and are advised to claim to authorities that they are just tourists visiting a particular city;
- The agency has no permanent address, and its agents do not reveal their full names and contact details, applicants are advised of particular immigration lanes to choose during departure from the Philippines; and,
- They are told that there is no Philippine Embassy in Iraq, and applicants must coordinate with particular individuals in case of emergencies.
The DFA also advised OFWs to first check job offers with the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA).
