The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration warned the public anew, particularly aspiring overseas Filipino workers, against unscrupulous individuals posing as employees of the agency.
In an advisory, the POEA advised overseas job applicants to exercise extreme caution and avoid dealing with illegal recruiters.
It said the scammers are using the name and logo of the agency in their illegal activities in deceiving potential job applicants through different schemes, including overseas employment offers, expedited transactions with the agency, and financial solicitation.
It urged the public to always verify job offers through the POEA verification system, by visiting the POEA website www.poea.gov.ph.
It also encouraged the public to report any illegal recruitment activities to the Philippine National Police or contact the POEA Anti-Illegal Recruitment Branch Operations and Surveillance Division at email poea_airb_osd@yahoo.com, 8722-1192, or through its official Facebook page.
“The act of misrepresentation as POEA personnel and unauthorized use of the Administration’s name and logo for overseas recruitment are against the law and considered as illegal recruitment with a penalty of imprisonment and fine,” it said.
The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, meanwhile, cautioned OFWs not to fall prey to individuals who are offering assistance for the release of cash aid, under the Abot Kamay Ang Pagtulong (Akap) Program.
OWWA chief Hans Cacdac urged AKAP applicants to ignore those who are offering to “follow up” their cash assistance. Akap is a one-time P10,000, or USD200, financial aid for Filipino migrant workers whose incomes were affected by the coronavirus pandemic.*PNA
