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revealing her personal potential, professionally
assisting in the realization of civil and social rights
Deception in foreign employment: how to avoid becoming a victim of scammers?
14.06.2024
How to get a job abroad and avoid scams? We'll tell you using a real case from our hotline (names, details, and circumstances have been changed because all calls to the hotline are anonymous and confidential).
Alexey is an engineer by profession, with an intermediate level of English. After being fired from his last job, he decides to try his luck abroad. Alexey posts his resume on job search sites and sends it directly to employers. One day, Alexey receives an email from an American company that offered him help in finding a job abroad.
They promised full support: finding suitable vacancies and employers, helping to prepare for the interview, handling the work visa and relocation. "It's like companies that help with visa applications. We do the same, only we help with employment," the company representative assured.
Alexey found the offer tempting: the company's arguments convinced him, and their website was nice and trustworthy, so he agreed to their services. For the work, the company asked Alexey for a 50% deposit of $700.
Alexey had some savings, but the amount was still considerable, so he hesitated. However, the man thought it was too late to refuse: once he had decided, he had to see it through, plus they promised a high salary. Alexey transferred the money and started waiting for the company's advice on interviews with American employers, the vacancies themselves, and the visa processing. But the company suddenly went silent. Despite trying to contact them again, no one ever responded to Alexey. The man panicked and realized that he had probably fallen for a scam. Then he turned to the hotline of the "Business Women's Club" for a free and anonymous consultation. After talking to the hotline operator, Alexey was finally convinced that he had been a victim of employment fraud. Unfortunately, it was not possible to recover the amount sent to the scammers, as the money was sent to a card in another country.
What to do if you have been deceived when applying for a job abroad?
There aren't many options, because if you transfer money to an account in another country, it will be extremely difficult, if not impossible, to get them back. If you have already been deceived, it's still better to contact the police and find out what can be done in your specific situation.
How not to become a victim of scammers?
1. Don't be lazy to check all the information yourself.
Is the employer's company and the job itself real? Do they hire foreigners for this particular position? Does the employer's country issue work visas for such a position? How much do specialists in your field earn on average in the country you have chosen?
Knowing this and other necessary information for employment abroad, you will immediately recognize scammers, because their words will contradict the facts you already know.
You can find up-to-date information about employment for Belarusians abroad on our hotline at 88012015555, for calls within the Republic of Belarus, from landline phones of mobile operators A1, MTC, life:) the call is free.
+375(162)218888, for calls from abroad and within the Republic of Belarus — payment according to long-distance tariffs.
113, free code-free calls from landline phones in the territory of the Republic of Belarus.
2. A beautiful and professionally looking website of an employment agency is not a guarantee that you haven't fallen for scammers.
Check for reviews: it's good if they are detailed, varied, and clearly written by people, not artificial intelligence. If the agency's website has photos of their team, search for them on Google or Yandex images. If you find this photo on stock photo sites or even with other companies, it's a reason to be wary.
3. Never pay any advance fees before receiving the service. Always conclude a contract and make sure that it is correctly drawn up and has legal force.
If they ask you to pay in advance, it's almost 100% scammers.
4. If you are applying for a position, for example, as a sales manager or head of sales, and they force you to purchase the products the company sells, it's scammers.
5. It is legal and safe to find employment through licensees, that is, through Belarusian legal entities and individual entrepreneurs who have obtained a license from the Ministry of Internal Affairs and have the right to send Belarusians to work abroad. The full list can be viewed here:
If you have questions about working abroad, safe and legal migration, providing assistance to victims of human trafficking and their relatives, as well as children's safety on the internet, use the information posted on our website!
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