Many Filipinos have flocked online, reporting about getting random job offers in their inboxes with sketchy and suspicious details.
Similarly, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) sounded the alarm on the disturbing increase of “job offer” scams targeting Filipinos seeking employment opportunities, urging our “kababayans” to critically examine the messages they receive and not to engage in these deceptive gimmicks.
Senator Mark Villar is echoing this call as he raised the alarm over the dubious employment opportunities that are being offered online.
“Parami nang parami po ang nakikita nating reklamo tungkol sa mga job scam na nare-receive ng ating mga kababayan sa kanilang mga messaging apps at inbox, nakakaalarma na po ang volume ng mga random message na ito dahil nako-compromise po nito ang privacy, security, at pera ng ating mga kababayan,” Villar said.
(The complaints I’ve been getting are increasing, and these are about job scams our countryment receive in their messaging apps and inbox. This volume of random messages is, indeed, alarming because it is compromising the privacy, security, and money of our countrymen.)
These fraudulent career opportunities have a pattern. The SEC reported that when individuals engage with fake job hunters, they will be tasked to sort, click, and manage listings for dubious e-commerce platforms. To entice the victims, the scammer will give them small amounts of payment to build trust. Once hooked, the victims will be asked to deposit money in escalating amounts for them to access “higher-paying” tasks, until the scammer disappears with the funds.
“Kung iintindihin po natin ang report ng SEC, pinagiisipan po talaga ng mga scammer kung paano nila sasamantalahin, kukuhain ang tiwala, at nanakawan ang mga kababayan nating naghahanap lamang ng trabaho (If we understand the SEC report well, it could be gleaned that the scammers really know how to take advantage, gain the confidence, and steal from our countrymen who are just looking for jobs.). It becomes a cycle and this cycle will continue if we do not put a stop on this,” the Senator urged.
In order to combat and put a stop to the proliferation of these fraudulent activities, Senator Mark Villar filed a resolution to look into or investigate these “job offer” scams. By exposing the modus of these cybercriminals, he vows to uncover who are behind this criminal enterprise and hold them accountable, and at the same time, raise public awareness to prevent them from victimizing more Filipinos.
“Panahon na po para bigyang pansin ang mga job scams na ito. Kailangan na po natin imbestigahan kung paano ito kumakakalat at alamin kung paano ito pipigilan para hindi na makaapekto pa ng maraming Pilipino na gusto lang naman maghanap-buhay,” Sen. Villar stressed.
(It’s time for us to act on these job scams. We need to investigate who these are being spread, and determine how this could be stopped so that it won’t affect many Filipinos who just want to earn a living)
Known for his fierce advocacy against scams and fraudulent or deceptive practices, he believes that any plot or attempt to take people’s hard-earned money is deplorable and unjust. Villar deems that these bogus job opportunities under the guise of tasking and recharging are no different from the social engineering schemes and online scams that he has long been tracking down.
“Any attempt to prey on our Filipino job seekers who just want to earn a living should be met with the full force of the law. Hindi na po dapat nating hayaan magpatuloy ang mga ganitong bagay dahil libu-libong Pilipino po ang umaasa na sila ay magkakatrabaho at kikita ng pera– pero nakakalungkot dahil sila pala ay niloloko lang at ninanakawan ng pera (We cannot let this go on because thousands of Filipinos are hoping that could land a job, and earn a living. It’s disappointing that they are even the ones who are being fooled and being robbed),” Villar underscored.