Sheep thrills: Fake farm job scams target Australian job seekers
Job seekers have been warned by the Department of Employment (DoE) that there is a new wolf in sheep’s clothing on the prowl. The DoE is urging caution as cunning scammers weave a web of deceit, dangling the allure of lucrative agricultural jobs in Australia to unsuspecting victims.
These crafty con artists are exploiting social media to lure hopeful applicants, promising bumper salaries between 90,000 and 120,000 baht per month for overseas farming roles. The bait includes sweet promises of work permits valid for up to five years, with additional perks like visa fees and accommodation footed by the supposed employers.
But here’s the catch: victims are stung by an operation fee ranging from 100,000 to 200,000 baht. Duped job seekers are even asked to submit personal documents, such as ID cards, passports and house registrations, allegedly for background checks and visa applications, said Somchai Morakotsriwan, DoE Director General.
“After the money was transferred, the scammers became unreachable.”
Communication comes to an abrupt halt once these fraudsters pocket the cash.
Make no mistake, there are no new deals in place to export labour to Australia, officials have confirmed. Somchai emphasised that hopeful job hunters should scrutinise any overseas work offer by visiting the Central Employment Registration and Jobseeker Protection Division’s official site at doe.go.th/ipd before parting with cash.
In the past year alone, the department has recorded 608 victims across 452 deceitful schemes, racking up losses totalling a staggering 44 million baht.
Local government officials are urging Thais to proceed with caution, verify those tempting job offers, and stick to official channels to avoid getting caught in a scammer’s snare. Stay savvy, and safeguard yourself from this down under deception!
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions asked about this news.
Why are employment scams targeting agricultural jobs so effective?
They exploit the high demand for overseas work and the allure of lucrative salaries, making them convincing to unsuspecting job seekers.
How can job seekers protect themselves from falling victim to such scams?
By verifying job offers through official channels and being sceptical of high fees and too-good-to-be-true promises.
What if these scams continue to rise despite warnings?
Increased scams could lead to stricter regulations, more public awareness campaigns, and collaboration between countries to combat fraud.
What role does social media play in the proliferation of these scams?
Social media offers anonymity and wide reach, making it an ideal platform for scammers to connect with potential victims.
How might these scams impact the perception of legitimate overseas job opportunities?
They could create scepticism and fear, making individuals wary of legitimate job offers and causing a decline in applications.
