SEEK: PH is No. 2 target of employment fraud in APAC

The Philippines has emerged as the No. 2 most targeted country for employment fraud in Asia-Pacific, accounting for 20 percent of all scam attempts detected across the region, according to new insights released by SEEK for International Fraud Awareness Week.

Employment scams are escalating across APAC as fraudsters exploit economic pressures and job seekers’ urgency to find work. 

The Philippines' high ranking underscores how deeply vulnerable local job seekers remain—especially those seeking entry-level roles or immediate income.

The big picture

SEEK—parent company of Jobstreet and Jobsdb—analyzed fraud patterns detected across its platforms in Asia, Australia, and New Zealand between July 2024 and June 2025. 

The findings reveal increasingly sophisticated schemes tailored to specific markets.

• Indonesia tops the list, representing 38 percent of APAC fraud attempts and 62 percent of Asian-market fraud.

• The Philippines comes in second at 20 percent, followed by other markets such as Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and Hong Kong.

• Fraudsters are adapting rapidly, using generative AI, identity impersonation, and off-platform messaging apps to trick job seekers.

By the numbers

Across SEEK’s APAC platforms, the company screened 4.3 million job ads, escalating 8 percent for manual review. This allowed SEEK to:

• Block 3,600 hirers who failed onboarding checks
• Close 650 accounts tied to fraud or high-risk behavior
• Remove nearly 2,800 dangerous listings

Candidates also reported 22,000 suspicious ads, all manually reviewed by SEEK’s Trust & Safety team.

Zoom in: The Philippines

Fraudsters in the Philippines most frequently target job seekers pursuing roles in:

• Accounting
• Sales
• Healthcare & medical
• Administration & office support
• Manufacturing
• Transportation & logistics

These categories attract scammers because of high applicant volume and job seekers’ desire for quick employment.

What they’re saying

“Administration and office support roles are particularly vulnerable because they typically don’t require specialized degrees or extensive experience,” said Tom Rhind, SEEK’s head of trust & safety. “Combined, these entry-level categories create larger pools of potential victims.”

The tactics

Across APAC, scammers increasingly rely on artificial intelligence to craft convincing job posts, emails, and messages. In the Philippines, they often impersonate Jobstreet representatives and reach candidates via SMS, messaging apps, and especially Viber, a common tool among local fraud groups.

How Jobstreet is responding

Jobstreet by SEEK has ramped up safeguards to keep job seekers safe:

• Strict hirer verification
• Automated and manual ad moderation
• Reporting tools for suspicious posts
• Collaborations with government and industry bodies

Through its Security & Privacy Hub, the platform also educates candidates on recognizing scams, unfair hiring practices, and online safety.

The bottom line

“Jobstreet by SEEK is committed to creating a safe and trusted employment marketplace,” said Dannah Majaracon, managing director of Jobstreet by SEEK Philippines. 

“We encourage all hirers and job seekers to use legitimate job platforms so every connection leads to real opportunities.” —Ed: Corrie S. Narisma