FAKE JOBS, INVESTMENTS, LOTTERY

OFWs warned vs online scams

By Cynthia Balana
Philippine Daily Inquirer
Philippines—The Philippine Embassy in The Hague has identified six Internet scam operations that have victimized many overseas Filipinos with fake job offers, investment schemes or lottery games.

In a warning posted on its website, the embassy told Filipinos to “avoid any involvement in the following scams: Reserve Petroleum Nederland BV (dealing with job contracts); Biotal (dealing with cash prizes); SNS Securities NV (dealing with investment scams); European lottery Guild (dealing with online lotteries); Saxo Financial Online Bank (dealing with online lotteries); and Globalum Lottery Promotions (also dealing with online lotteries).”

Many Filipinos, mostly based in the Middle East, have been victimized by these bogus online companies that entice respondents to send money, ostensibly to facilitate the processing of papers for job applications or lottery winnings.

“The embassy wishes to inform the public that these are just some of dozens of Internet, mail and phone scams circulating in Europe. It is most likely that these scammers have established fake addresses in various European countries,” the warning said.

The embassy advised the public to ignore these fictitious announcements and not to remit any money to any bank.

It advised job seekers to always double check information on online offers.

“If you have been a victim of such activities, you may wish to provide information to your nearest police station, or to the Philippine Embassy in the Hague,” the embassy added. Queries may be e-mailed to ph@bart.nl

Earlier, the embassy said the site of Reserve Petroleum Nederland BV was reported to have victimized Filipinos working in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates with promises of employment contracts in the Netherlands.

The modus operandi is to e-mail an official letter of appointment to job seekers, assuring them of employment. The “official letter” would mention the scope of the work, an attractive salary package, fringe benefits, grants and other supposed entitlements.

The e-mail sender will then direct recipients to remit a certain amount of money to cover the “fees” for visa, work or residence permits supposedly required by the Dutch government. Anyone who remits money will soon find out that the company is fraudulent.

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