Syndicate Offering Fake/Fraud Job Opportunity in Malaysia Through Internet

Back Ground

The High Commission of Malaysia in Islamabad wish to bring to the kind attention of the public that currently there are several syndicates actively offering job opportunities in Malaysia through internet for the public mainly job seekers in other countries including Pakistan. 

The Syndicates are mainly operated by foreign workers living in Malaysia using the internet as a channel of communication. All kinds of applications, interviews, job offers and contract agreements will be channelled through on line only. There is no face to face interview. 

The modus operandi of the syndicates

1. The syndicates will create fake web sites of the reputed companies in Malaysia to gain the confidence of the applicants. The web site normally does not contain comprehensive background about the companies, but focus on job offer opportunities.  The web sites contain some pictures about the activities of the companies but in reality the pictures are just picked up from some where else and are added to the web sites.

2. The syndicates will create dedicated e-mails of the companies whereas in reality the e-mails belong to the syndicates. The e-mails comes in various patterns and always keeps on changing to show the different companies and different persons are communicating, but in reality the same syndicates does the work.  The e-mails will use common servers such as Yahoo, G mail, hot mail, consultant.com and etc. The syndicates also use the pattern of e-mails normally used by the government agencies in Malaysia for example: ...@immi-gvt-my.com whereas the actual e-mail of the particular Malaysian Agency is as follows: ...@imi.gov.my (please see the difference of both e-mails).

3. The syndicates will appear as a Malaysian Agency, while corresponding with the applicants. The most common Ministries and Agencies being used by the syndicates are: Kementerian Dalam Negeri (Ministry of Home Affairs), Kementerian Luar Negeri (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) and Jabatan Imigresen Malaysia (Immigration Department) since these Ministries and Agencies are handling the Work Permits and Visa processing for workers.   

4. The syndicates will use the same format of Letter Heads, addresses and seals of the Malaysian Ministries and Agencies concerned. The signatory of the letter will vary from time to time to ensure that the applicants feel confident and that the letter is genuine.   

5. After several communications with the applicants, the syndicates will forward offer letters and contract agreements (which are actually fake) from the companies to the applicants by using the same format of logos, and trade marks of the companies.  In the offer letter and other further correspondences, the syndicates will request various fees and payments in advance from the applicants on the following matters:

·         Visa application fees,

·         Commerce and Industries fees,

·         Foreign Affairs fees,

·         Certificate of anti-terrorism fees,

·         and other fees (The total fees varies from USD 800 – USD 2,400)

6. The Syndicates will make the offer look genuine, they will request from the applicants to submit their documents to the companies by fax or e-mail. The syndicates will provide all genuine addresses of the companies, however, all e-mail and fax numbers given actually belongs to the Syndicates. The syndicates will request the following standard documentations for processing:

·        Copy of Passport - Front and back page

·        One photograph - passport size

·        Copy of relevant degree and certificates and any other experiences document

·        Other documents          

7. The result of the application will be successful 100%, no matter whether the applicant has the qualification/experience or not. The offer letter of the post will look very attractive and lucrative to attract the applicant. Normally the applicant will accept the offer without realizing that he/she is actually dealing and communicating with the Syndicate.

8. The syndicates will also provide the contact numbers of the person in-charge by claiming they are from the Ministry of Home Affairs or Immigration Department, whereas, in actual fact they are from the syndicates.

9. The syndicates will focus on companies involved with oil and gas, petroleum products, car manufacturers and hotel industries as their target, because these types of companies can offer lucrative salaries.  The most popular posts offered to the applicants are in the engineering, management and consultancy fields. Several Malaysian Companies have been identified and chosen by the syndicates to attract the applicants, are as follows:

·         PETRONAS NATIONAL BERHAD - Oil and Gas Industry

·         CALTEX OIL COMPANY - Oil and Gas Industry

·         Alado oil & field solution, Sarawak - Oil and Gas Industry

·          OilFab Sdn Bhd - Oil and Gas Industry

·         Boustead Petroleum Sdn Bhd - related with petroleum

·         BHP Petroleum Company - related with petroleum

·         VAN DOREN OIL COMPANY - related with petroleum

·         Amax Oil and Gas Company - related with petroleum

·         PROTON EDAR SDN BHD MALAYSIA   - car manufacturers

·         Billa Vista Hotel, Langkawi - hotel industry

·         Harbour View Hotel, Sarawak - hotel industry

.   and many others

Modes of Payment

10. After accepting the offer and signing the contract agreement (all fake) the applicants needs to remit the money in advance as mentioned in para 5 above by remitting the money to the bank account as instructed by the syndicates. However, the syndicate’s latest modus operandi is by asking the applicants to remit the money through agent i.e. the Western Union Money Transfer.

11. The syndicate changed the mode of payment to Western Union Money Transfer because it does not involve any bank account number during the transaction, therefore, the police and enforcement authorities could face difficulties to investigate the culprits. 

Advice to the Public from the High Commission of Malaysia in Islamabad

i. The Ministries and Agencies under the Government of Malaysia never requests payment through on line from the applicants

ii. All visa applications and related fees must be submitted and paid to the Malaysian Foreign Missions abroad i.e. Malaysian High Commissions/Embassies/ Consulate Generals/Consul Offices in person. 

iii. The approval and reference number of working permit issued by the Ministries or Agencies concerned in Malaysia will be forwarded to the Malaysian Foreign Missions abroad i.e. Malaysian High Commissions/Embassies/Consulate Generals/ Consul Offices through on line and the details of the applicants and reference number of working permit can be verified at the Malaysian Foreign Missions abroad.  

iv. The Malaysian Ministries and Agencies concerned never deals with the modes of payment through on line or through third party.  Therefore, any modes of payment through Agent such as the Western Union Money Transfer do not arise and is irrelevant.

v. All Malaysian Ministries and Agencies concerned have their   standard official e-mails. For reference, the standard e-mail format is as follows: i.e. (name)@imi.gov.my, (for the Department of Immigration), (name)@kdn.gov.my, (for the Ministry of Home Affairs) and (name)@kln.gov.my (for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs).  The applicants are strictly advised to take note of the standard e-mails above. 

vi. The High Commission of Malaysia in Islamabad welcomes any important information related to the syndicates to be forwarded to our office for our onward transmission to the Malaysian Royal Police and the Immigration Department for their immediate attention and action.

vii. All applicants are advised to contact the High Commission of Malaysia in Islamabad for further clarification and communication. Please do not hesitate to contact the following numbers:

            Telephone        :           + (92 51) 2656092 / 2656223 / 2656282

            Fax                   :           + (92 51) 2656012 / 2656283

            E-mail               :           malislamb@kln.gov.my

             wanfadzil@imi.gov.my

Thank You.