OVERSEAS EMPLOYMENT SCAM

Each of us has our own dream to work abroad to seek higher pay, with good benefits. But those dream has its own risk. Make it a point to check an employment agency of its legitimacy in hiring job seekers for overseas posting. Don't immediately swept away of those wonderful promises of the availability of the job with higher pay and chances to go higher in position.

Employment scam artist take advantage of job seekers. They claim to offer employment services and inside information about contacts to jobs. Some fraudulent employment services only sell list of companies they have gotten from public directories. They usually not contacted those companies directly or know if there's really any job openings.

The applicant should be cautious in dealing with them. There are lots of unscrupulous work agencies whose only intention is to lure applicants to accept a position that is non-existent. What they are after is the job placement fee. There are also job placement operators who hide their permanent address and provide only post office address where transaction end there. It is very hard to trace them if application for a job goes wrong especially if the applicant already pay the initial processing fee. This kind of placement firm can easily avoid scrutiny by job applicants.

Asking advance placement fee is an early warning for an applicant to be aware that something not right along the way. Most of this notice for availability of a position is posted in magazines and newspapers under the section in classified ads portion. This notice was indicated in bold letters for job seekers to easily notice the job posting. They indicated further their telephone numbers for them to call for verification.

You are being told to prepare the advance placement fee for them to pick-up by a courier company or through overnight delivery to be paid by you. The purpose of this method of payment is to hide their origin.

As an applicant, don't allow yourself to believe the so-called money-back guarantee or refund if job availability is not materialize. You can never ask a refund because you can no longer contact them running away with your money. The telephone number they give you is just a front for you to call them.

How can you avoid them?

Request for the name of the employees or the name of the applicants they hired for your confirmation if they really have hired applicants for job posting. If it is a fraud, they will not give you any information related to the subject. Asking for reference is the hardest thing for you to know because of secrecy in their part that they have to protect citing privacy concern. But what the real point of the scam artist is for you not to be able to contact them.

One way to check the legitimacy of such a firm or agency in job placement business is to contact the Better Business Bureau of the state if the name of their company is listed there or any complaints filed to their office for the firm you are applying.

Do not apply to a company who relied solely via phone or mail. A legitimate placement agency is happy and eager to meet you before referring to an employer ready to accept you. Be suspicious if the employer they referred to you will accept you immediately without even meeting or conducting an interview as intention in hiring you. The would-be employer will never hire applicant without meeting and knowing the applicant personally.

Avoid an operator in a country where they reside to transact business of hiring applicant to another country. Their purpose is to erase a trace of their existence if you will scrutinize the firm you are applying. If there is an investigation of the legitimacy of such hiring, it cannot be traced immediately of their true origin by law enforcement agencies.

Because you are paying an advance fee, it is your right to know more about this company, how long they are in business, about their financial condition, the services they offered. It is of your best interest to request a written contract regarding your employment and the kind of service they are offering you and the promises of higher pay. If they will not give it to you, then go away. It maybe a ploy to victimize you.

Be sure to be equip with all the necessary information about this firm you are applying before making any commitment of paying the advance fee. Know first their motive if the job is really available to you. Talk and meet your employer first before making any fee for the agency. We believed they will not allow this arrangement. But if they are honest with their offer, then they are gladly consent to your request. Any legitimate agency were always keep in touch with their applicants they are hiring instead of evading them.

It is better if they can offer you a fly now, pay later in an airline company to meet your employer. Or, to have a company offering a work now, pay later opportunities. Then you are assured that you are not wasting your money and efforts in going there. Be wise and be smart in order to survive from scam artist's hand.

It is also important that you verify your embassy in another country where the available post is located there. If you can work in that country being not a citizen of that particular country. You only know this that it is not possible when you are already there.

Ask the agency how refund policy is done to have your chances not to loss your advance payment. Ask for specific written instruction for a refund, if there's any. In any way, don't give your credit card or bank information if they ask you. If there is a contract, they will prepare it for you to sign regarding your employment. It is advisable to consult your legal counsel in your region the legitimacy of the contract. Don't too hasty to decide that you might regret later.

Allow more time for you to weigh whatever the consequences. Keep a copy of all documents (agreement/contract) in relation to your employment, even receipt of your advance payment. If they are legitimate, they can issue an official receipt for your payment.