Filipinos warned about bogus tourist-visa-to-work-permit conversion scheme

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) warned Filipinos coming into Malaysia about a bogus tourist-visa-to-work-permit conversion scheme in exchange for a large amount of money.

“The [Philippine] Embassy [in Kuala Lumpur] has received information and is acting on complaints from Filipinos about individuals who promise to convert their Social Visit Passes (or tourist visas) into work visas in exchange for money,” DFA said in a statement Thursday.

“Please be informed that foreigners, including Filipinos who travel to Malaysia as tourists, cannot work there legally,” DFA said.

The embassy in Malaysia had already documented many Filipinos who fell victim to the scheme, DFA said.

Unsuspecting victims initially come to Malaysia as tourists but tried to look for jobs while they were there.

“They then get ‘referrals’ from other individuals, and then give their money and passports to these ‘agents’ who promise to get them work visas,” DFA said.

“A number of Filipinos have become victims of this form of illegal recruitment and fraud, and are now worried about their status in Malaysia,” it said.

Job offers in Malaysia can be validated with the Philippine Overseas Employment Agency (POEA) in Manila or the Embassy’s Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO).

“[Our] embassy reminds Filipinos to be vigilant and not to deal with unlicensed individuals or purported placement agencies before coming to Malaysia for a job,” DFA said.