MANILA, Philippines—The Philippine embassy in Berlin has uncovered another scam designed to victimize Filipino job seekers, the Department of Foreign Affairs said.
This was after two Filipinas contacted the embassy seeking to verify the authenticity of a company named Markel-Power International, allegedly located in Bremen, Germany, which informed the two through e-mail that they will be hired by the firm.
The company advised the job-seekers that in order for their recruitment to be completed, they have to pay 70 euros (about $100 or P4,600) through Western Union to an employment company based in Monza, Italy.
The embassy later discovered 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 embassy advised the two Filipinas not to pay the company any amount for their alleged recruitment.
“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,” chargé d’affaires ad interim Christine Queenie Mangunay said.
The Nigerian 4-1-9 scam, also known as the Nigerian Advance Fee scheme, is a worldwide scam which involves the receipt an unsolicited letter allegedly from a Nigerian Central Bank employee or from the Nigerian government. It is named after the section of the Nigerian penal code which addresses fraudulent schemes.
The embassy warns Filipino job seekers 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.