A fake recruiter was recently found guilty of illegal recruitment and estafa after collecting ₱20,000 from a jobseeker for a factory job in Taiwan that didn't exist. It's a familiar story: a real-sounding job, a reasonable-sounding fee, and then nothing.
The good news is that most fake recruiters fail two simple checks you can do yourself, before you hand over any money.
The two-minute check
1. Is the agency licensed?
Search for the agency's name on the DMW website under "Licensed Recruitment Agencies". If it's not listed, or its licence is suspended or cancelled, stop.
2. Is there an approved job order for this exact job?
A licence alone isn't enough. A licensed agency must also have a DMW-approved job order for the specific job and country you're applying for. Check under "Approved Job Orders" on the DMW website.
If the agency or the job isn't there, it isn't a real overseas job offer, however convincing it looks.
Warning signs
Be very careful if a recruiter:
- asks for money before you've signed a contract, especially a "processing", "reservation" or "medical" fee
- asks you to pay by GCash or bank transfer to a personal account
- won't give an official receipt
- only deals with you on Facebook, Messenger or WhatsApp, or meets you in a coffee shop, mall or private house instead of a registered office
- promises a job very fast, or guarantees a slot
- tells you to travel on a tourist visa and "convert it" when you get there
- uses a real agency's name, but the person isn't listed as that agency's authorised representative
DMW's rule of thumb: if a message or email about a job abroad asks you for money, treat it as a scam.
Government jobs have no agency in between
Under government-to-government (G2G) programmes, such as the current one for Croatia's hotel jobs, the DMW recruits directly. There's no placement fee and no agent. Anyone selling "slots" in a G2G programme is lying. See our guide to the Croatia G2G jobs.
If you've already paid
- Stop paying. Recruiters often ask for "one last fee".
- Keep everything: chat screenshots, receipts, transfer records, names, phone numbers and the agency name they used.
- Report to the DMW's Migrant Workers Protection Bureau. It helps victims file cases against illegal recruiters. You can reach it through its Facebook page, by email at mwpb@dmw.gov.ph, or on +63 2 8721-0619.
- You can also file a complaint with the police or the NBI for estafa.
Illegal recruitment is a serious crime in the Philippines, and the penalties are heavier when it's done on a large scale or by a group. Reporting helps stop the same people targeting someone else.
Always verify on dmw.gov.ph before paying anyone for a job abroad.
Sources
This article is general information, not financial, tax or legal advice. Government rules and rates change; confirm current figures with the official agency before acting.