The Philippines’ Labor Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz has warned Filipinos against being duped by a recruitment scam perpetrated through the Internet advertising for jobs in Malaysia.

According to the Philippine Daily Inquirer , Baldoz aired the warning after receiving a report from the Philippine Overseas Labor Office in Kuala Lumpur saying there are mails proliferating in the Internet on an alleged notice from the Immigration Department of Malaysia about its visa processing requirements.

“Such notices are a hoax and prospective workers for Malaysia should be very wary about answering these hoax emails,” Baldoz warned in a press release.

According to the Inquirer , Baldoz explained that the alleged notice from the immigration authority is sent as an email to a prospective Filipino applicant informing him of a pending appointment letter from a certain company, Mobil Oil Company, which allegedly requests for the processing of the applicant’s documents.

In a sample email received by a prospective applicant, the Philippines’ labor attaché in Kuala Lumpur, Hassan Gabra Jumdain, said the email states that after securing all the necessary documents from the applicant, the processing of a visa or residence work permit would cost the worker a total of US$670 (RM2,083) that the applicant should send through Western Union to an account name with a government office address in Kuala Lumpur.

“The email also indicates that the cost of pre-paid flight tickets will be shouldered by the host employer, in this case Mobil Oil Company,” Jumdain said.

Baldoz urged prospective overseas Filipino workers to strictly observe precautionary measures pertaining to applications for employment in Malaysia.

“They should only deal with licensed recruitment agencies posted at the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration website, or visit the POEA for advice. They should not be lured by sweet words from fixers and agents promising overseas jobs for a fee.

“Better still, they should immediately report illegal recruiters to government authorities,” she said further, and warned illegal recruiters to stop plying their nefarious trade because the law will eventually catch up with them.