I was scammed by a fake job or recruitment offer — what do I do?
Last updated: 2026-07-11 · Educational content; not legal advice.
Short answer
A genuine employer does not ask you to pay to be hired. Demands for a 'processing,' 'training,' or 'placement' fee, or for you to buy something before you can start, are hallmark job-scam tactics — and taking money on a false promise of work is generally estafa under Art. 315 of the Revised Penal Code, one degree higher when arranged online (RA 10175). Stop paying and cut contact. Report to the PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group or NBI, and if you paid by bank or e-wallet, report to that provider's fraud unit at once. Note a separate danger: some 'jobs' are fronts for human trafficking or fraud hubs — if an overseas offer feels coercive, treat it as urgent and seek help from authorities immediately.
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Frequently asked
How do I recognize a job scam?
The biggest tell is being asked to pay to get hired — processing, training, uniform, or 'placement' fees, or being told to buy equipment or load first. Add pressure to decide fast, vague company details, and pay-only-through-me channels, and you are almost certainly looking at a scam.
I already paid a 'fee' — what now?
Stop any further payments and cut contact. If you paid via bank or e-wallet, report to that provider's fraud unit immediately to attempt a hold or reversal, then report the estafa to the PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group or NBI with your evidence.
The 'job' is abroad and feels like a trap — is that different?
Yes, and it can be far more serious. Some fake overseas jobs are fronts for trafficking or scam-hub operations where people are confined and forced to work. If an offer turns coercive, treat it as an emergency and contact Philippine authorities or, if already abroad, the nearest Philippine embassy/consulate right away.
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What to do after an online scam — the first-hour playbook, where to report (PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group, NBI, DOJ Office of Cybercrime), how to spot and report investment/Ponzi scams to the SEC, phishing and OTP theft, online-shopping fraud (undelivered, fake, or misrepresented goods), romance and job scams, and the legal basis under estafa (Revised Penal Code Art. 315), RA 8484, RA 10175, RA 8792, RA 7394, and RA 8799.