Phl’s Portugal embassy warns vs job scams

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine embassy in Lisbon warned the public yesterday to beware of Internet-based employment scams following an upsurge in the number of Filipinos who have fallen victims to spurious companies.

The embassy said many Filipinos have received job offers from companies or law firms allegedly based in Portugal.

In some cases, unscrupulous individuals misrepresented real, reputable firms in Portugal by replacing their contact information, the embassy said.

These individuals, according to the embassy, charge exorbitant fees for documents they claim are required by Portuguese authorities.

“The public is hereby advised to exercise due diligence and caution in dealing with unverified parties to avoid being victimized by these scams. Be aware that business companies with international dealings rarely hire employees solely on the basis of curriculum vitae but will always require personal interviews,” the embassy said.

“Prospective employees should likewise be wary of job offers from individuals who ask for monetary fees for testing or processing of documents prior to employment because this is a sure sign of a scam,” it added.

Filipinos who wish to work in Portugal or have other transactions (except tourist visa applications, which are handled by the embassy of Greece in Manila) may contact the Portuguese embassy in Jakarta.