4 months ago - Nadhirah Afiqah

Protect Yourself from Job Scams. How to spot one and what do you need to do.

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​ManpowerGroup Malaysia takes your safety seriously during the recruitment process. Remember, ManpowerGroup and its family of brands, Manpower, Experis and Talent Solutions will never ask candidates for any recruitment or placement fees. Be aware that some individuals or organizations are misusing the Manpower brand name to demand money in exchange for interviews or jobs with Manpower or its clients. They are illegally using the company's registered trademark on fake job advertisements and emails to deceive innocent victims. When in doubt, it’s always best to contact the company via the official number or email on the website.
 

Job scam cases are alarmingly on the rise. Since 2021, authorities have rescued 326 Malaysian victims of job scams who were stranded abroad. The police have received 354 reports on job scams involving 459 victims from 2021 until February 23 this year.

Job Scam Cases in Malaysia: A Growing Concern

 

Wendy, a 19-year-old college student from Kuala Lumpur, was scrolling through her Facebook feed when she stumbled upon an intriguing job advertisement. The ad promised easy commissions for simply leaving positive reviews for an airline company. Excited about the opportunity to earn some extra money, Wendy clicked on the ad.

Shortly after, Wendy was contacted by a woman who claimed to be an employee of the airline company. The woman explained the details of the part-time job, making it sound legitimate and straightforward. Trusting the information provided, Wendy decided to give it a try.

However, things quickly took a turn for the worse. Wendy soon realized that she had fallen prey to a scam. Throughout of her involvement, she ended up losing almost RM15,000. The experience was a harsh lesson for Wendy, who now warns others to be cautious of too-good-to-be-true job offers found on social media.

 

Recent Arrests 🚓

 

In March 2024, five Malaysian nationals, including two women and three men aged between 23 and 28, were arrested for their suspected involvement in laundering money obtained from job scams and other scams targeting Singaporeans.

 

What are job scams?

 

Job scams come in various forms. Some involve fake job ads posted on social media and unreliable job portals, where a small payment is requested to secure an interview. Others might ask individuals to complete minor tasks, such as boosting social media content, in exchange for attractive commissions.

 

Job scammers usually target people actively seeking employment, offering easy money, or promising great jobs with minimal effort. They often ask for upfront fees or pressure individuals to share personal information like bank account details or NRIC numbers.

 

How to spot a job scam 🔎

 

If you answer ‘yes’ to the following, it’s likely to be a job scam:
  • You did not apply for the job.

  • The job offer seems too good to be true.

  • The job description is unclear or too short.

  • You found the job posting in a random social media community or on untrustworthy job boards.

  • Multiple typos and grammatical errors in the job advertisement, email, or text messages.

  • Job offer is sent from a personal email e.g. @gmail.com/ @hotmail.com or a “noreply” email, and not from the company’s official email domain.

  • You’ve been asked to transfer money for a medical check, work pass application, or corporate ID card, or to attend the job interview. We have a case where, a recruiter named Rita Marquess falsely claimed to represent us and requested a deposit for a corporate ID card, for remote work opportunities.

If you spot one or more of these red flags, there's a high chance that the person you’re in contact with is a job scammer. If you have doubts about the legitimacy of the recruiter reaching out to you, reach out to the company they’re claiming to be from through the company’s official number or email.

 

You can consider it a legitimate job ✔
  • The company has a legitimate website or official corporate social media account.

  • Communication channels include official company emails and phone numbers, not just social media channels and messaging platforms such as Facebook, WhatsApp, Telegram, WeChat, Viber, etc.

 

Official Social Accounts

ManpowerGroup Malaysia’s only official social media accounts are:

 

 

Steps to Protect Yourself from Job Scams in Malaysia

 

Being cautious can significantly reduce the risk of falling victim to a job scam. Here are some steps to take:

 

  • Research the company thoroughly. Check the company website for legitimacy, search for online reviews (be cautious of fake reviews), and verify their physical address if listed. Always double-check the authenticity of any job post, email, or employer that appears questionable before responding. Large, well-known firms, for example, never advertise using Gmail or other free email accounts. If you have any issues, contact the company directly to confirm.

  • Verify the Job listings. Ensure the job is advertised on the recruitment agency's or hiring company’s official website.

  • While reputable job boards exist, free platforms can attract scammers. Be selective about the Job Boards on which you apply for jobs. When looking for a job, please avoid responding to bogus job adverts that are frequently circulated in Facebook groups or messaging platforms.

  • Never disclose your NRIC number, bank account details, or login credentials during the initial application stage. Protect your personal information from scammers.

  • Check if the recruiter is working with that company if you’re not sure about the recruiter. Our recruiter would never use a Gmail email account to contact candidates.

 

ManpowerGroup Malaysia does not charge candidates fees or request personal information during the application process. We prioritize providing a safe and secure environment for your job search.

 

ManpowerGroup Malaysia Practices

No Fees: We do not charge candidates any fees. We never ask for an upfront fee (e.g., for things such as ‘processing’ your application). A genuine advertiser or employer WILL NOT ask you for money or your bank or credit card details.

Privacy: We do not request personal information, such as NRIC numbers or bank account details, during the application process.

Official Channels: We only advertise on job boards, official social media accounts, and our websites.

Verification: Any communication from ManpowerGroup Malaysia recruiters will always include their name and work email. You can verify the sender’s identity using their name or email by contacting us at +60126720874 or [email protected]

 

Your safety during the job search process is our priority. If you feel a scammer has approached you, please do not reply to them and notify authorities if your information has been compromised.

 

How to Report a Job Scam in Malaysia

 

If you suspect you've encountered a job scam, reporting it is crucial. Doing so helps protect your friends and family from falling victim to the same scheme and assists authorities in tracking down the perpetrators.

 

Report Online: Submit a report on the Cyber999 website. Provide details about the scam, including the type of scam, the scammer’s contact information, a description of the scam attempt, and any screenshots or evidence you have.

 

Call the Hotline: Contact the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) at 1-800-88-8999 for guidance and advice on reporting scams.

 

Police Report: If you believe you have suffered financial loss or the scam attempt was particularly serious, you can file a police report at any police station in Malaysia.

 

If you have been contacted by someone claiming to be a recruiter for ManpowerGroup Malaysia, you can verify the person's identity by contacting us at +60126720874 or [email protected]

 

Stay vigilant and aware of the increasing number of job scam cases. Protect yourself and your loved ones from falling prey to these fraudulent schemes.