The idea of working overseas especially in European countries such as United Kingdom (UK) and Germany sounds very attractive for Filipinos who are seeking for greener pastures. For them working abroad is synonymous to receiving bigger paycheck and living a comfortable life. Unfortunately, your dream and enthusiasm to start a new life abroad can be used by swindlers. They will devise schemes so they can earn your trust and fool you in trusting them with your money.

In connection with this, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) recently issued an advisory reminding applicant to first verify the availability of job orders in United Kingdom (UK) through their website. They can also call the POEA hotline numbers at 722-1144 and 722-1155.

This is because of the proliferation of training schools that promises employment opportunities in the said country upon completion. The said schools cater to professional nurses and nursing students. Other schools utilize a trainee-worker scheme, where they recruit and hire trainees even if the specific learning school does not have proper license to recruit workers for overseas post. The POEA administrator also informed applicants that UK prohibits charging of placement fees to jobseekers.

Applicants can also check the British Embassy Manila website for information about the new points-based system (PBS) as well as to know the current available jobs in UK.

Meanwhile the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) warned Filipino workers against a bogus email that makes jobseekers believed that they are being recruited to work for Germany but in truth are only set to exhort recruitment fees from the poor applicants.

According to the DFA, the Philippine Embassy in Berlin cited two cases of Filipino workers who were almost victimized by the email scam. In an article that appeared in the website of DFA, Chargé d’Affaires a.i. Christine Queenie Mangunay said, “The Embassy is convinced that this recruitment scheme is another variation of the Nigerian 4-1-9 advanced fee scam designed to victimize innocent Filipino job-seekers."

The two Filipino workers were spared from being victimized when they called the Embassy to confirm the authenticity of the company with a name, Markel-Power International that is supposedly based in Bremen, Germany.

According to the callers, they received an email from the hoax company Markel-Power International with a message that they would hire them. However they have to send Php 4,608 via Western Union to an employment company located in Monza, Italy.

It’s a good thing that they verified the authenticity company first before sending the amount. Upon calling the Embassy, they learned that Markel-Power International is non-existent, is not registered with the Bremen Chamber of Commerce and Industry, has a fictitious address, has no telephone and fax numbers, and is using a host in the United States for its English website.

The DFA said, "The Embassy warns Filipino jobseekers of the scam and has asked the DFA to bring the matter to the attention of relevant government authorities such as the Department of Labor and Employment, the Department of Justice, and the Philippine National Police."