Filipinos in Toronto warned against possible employment scam

The Philippine Consulate General in Toronto informed the public of a possible scam targeting nurses and others in health-oriented professions in the Philippines by offering them non-existent jobs in Canada, particularly as caregivers at Ian Anderson House, an in-resident cancer hospice located in Oakville, Ont.

The consulate general received a report that an invitation is being circulated through e-mail for a two-day seminar, currently scheduled for Mar.

7 to 8, in the Philippines where invited participants are asked to pay a Php 3,800 seminar fee in exchange for guaranteed employment at the aforementioned facility. The invitation allegedly comes from Primera Human Resource Services.

Upon consultation with a representative of Ian Anderson House, the consulate general has verified that the facility is not seeking employees or offering employment opportunities at this time, and that it is not, in any way, connected with the purported seminar.

Likewise, a check with the website of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) reveals that while Primera Human Resource Services is a licensed agency, it does not have approved job orders for Canada.

In view of the above, the public is strongly urged to exercise caution when responding to the abovementioned or similar offers of employment, and to verify the same with the POEA to avoid being victimized by unscrupulous individuals.