Some 70 Filipinos are accusing a man for allegedly swindling substantial amounts of money – ranging from MOP3,000 to MOP35,000 – in exchange for job offers and documents such as the non-
resident card (blue card).
Filipino Facebook group “Bahay Kubo sa Macau,” the name of which translates to “Nipa Hut in Macau,” currently has some 32,000 members. The group serves as a platform for the community to share information and sell commodities online.
One of the Facebook group’s administrators yesterday told the Times that he was first alerted to the scam through several posts by his fellow citizens.
The group administrator, who did not want to be identified for this report, said he was eager to help his compatriots as such issues have been on the rise among the Filipino community in the region.
“They will complain [on the Facebook group] but they will not bring the complaints to the authorities,” he said.
“Maybe they’re scared because some of them are tourists [on tourist visas],” he added.
The Times’ source said that some of the victims even gave authentic documents to the swindler, a Macau resident.
One victim, who did not wish to be identified, told the Times that he was offered a job position as a “driver’s assistant” with a monthly salary of MOP6,500.
“We met in Hoi Pan [Garden]. He asked me to ride in his yellow car and we drove around. We drove around the routes that I [would] have to drive to,” he said.
Another victim who also did not want to be identified said she planned to buy the scammer’s work permit for MOP12,000 since she wanted to give birth in the region.
“We only gave a down payment of MOP3,000 last Sunday […] we really thought it was genuine because he even told me that he chose to sell the quota to me because I am pregnant and will not be using it to search for part-time jobs,” she said.
The administrator of the Facebook group claims that he has so far received 21 written complaints and he plans to show them in court once the swindler is tried, so he can help his compatriots get their money back.
The Filipino BIR holder, who is currently being investigated, reportedly defrauded a total of MOP230,500 from 21 victims. He has also been accused of accepting two iPhone 6 units along with MOP5,000 in exchange for a “job order.”
The scammer reportedly messaged the administrator and told him that he was willing to admit his crime to the authorities. Lynzy Valles
Consulate received assistance requests
Lilybeth Deapera
Philippine Consul General in Macau, Lilybeth Deapera. told the Times that the Consulate General has received several requests for assistance from victims of the scam.
However, Deapera said the consulate has no power to prosecute the swindler, advising them instead to file a legal case against the man.
Deapera said that they have no authority because they do not have jurisdiction over the territory in which the crime occurred.
“There are hearsays that we’re not doing anything but it is not under the law [because] the crime happened in Macau.”
The consulate has been dissuading Filipinos to arrive in the peninsula with the intent of finding work, stressing that those job seekers should undergo valid and legal procedures through the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration.
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