Philippine Embassy, ABuja warns of scammers luring Filipinos with fake EMPLOYMENT offers IN NIGERIA  

18 July 2007 — Philippine Ambassador to Niger ia Masaranga R. Umpa issued an advisory to Filipinos at home and abroad that unscrupulous persons continue to victimize Filipinos wishing to work abroad with fake job offers, going to the extent of using a counterfeit letterhead of the Embassy in Abuja in their communications with intended victims.  

“The Embassy reiterates its warning to Filipinos not to entertain any offer of employment in Niger ia received through the internet as there is a high probability that these come from advance-payment fraudsters or ‘419’ scammers,” Ambassador Umpa said.  

The Ambassador explained that the fraudsters use the names of legitimate companies so that the intended victims are readily able to confirm the existence of the supposed firms offering employment.  The fraudsters then usually require their intended victims to communicate directly with an agent in Niger ia for the supposed processing of their visas and work permits.  These agents will then ask the intended victim to send payment for the ‘processing,’ assuring them that the expense will be reimbursed by the company when they start working.  The agents will also offer a very attractive salary to convince their intended victims to pay quickly.  

Ambassador Umpa added that the scammers have lately begun using the name of the Embassy to inform their intended victims that the employment offer is legitimate.  They have been sending letters using a fake Embassy letterhead and signed by the Chairman of the Panel of Investigation, which does not exist.  

“I call on all Filipinos at home and abroad to be vigilant about these employment scams, and to go through legitimate government channels when applying for employment abroad,” Ambassador Umpa emphasized, reiterating that the partial ban on the deployment of Filipino workers to Niger ia is still in effect.  END

/jay

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