By William Isau
SIBU, Oct 9: Sibu MP Oscar Ling has warned of the return of job scams in Northern Myanmar as a local Chinese man has become another victim.
Ling revealed that he recently received a plea for help via Facebook from the man.
He said today that the man who is in his early 20s, claimed that a friend in Dubai had enticed him with the promise of a lucrative job overseas, even providing him with a plane ticket.
“Upon arrival in Thailand, he was reportedly transported to Myanmar, where his phone was confiscated thus severing all communication with his family and friends.
“The young man requested my assistance in informing his mother about the fraud.
“He couldn’t reach her directly because she does not have access to Facebook,” said Ling.
The woman only knew that her son had left for work but lost contact with him after their last phone call when he was still in Thailand.
The woman subsequently filed a report at Sibu Police Station yesterday.
Ling cautioned youths against trusting offers of high-paying jobs abroad, even if recommended by close friends.
He warned that such offers are often part of elaborate scams run by fraud syndicates, who may even coerce friends or acquaintances into acting as recruiters under the threat of violence.
“Whether it’s phone scams, online fraud, high-paying overseas job offers, or Internet romances, the risk of falling victim to fraud is very high. Even trusted friends may unknowingly be part of these schemes, or may be forced to participate,” Ling said.
He also advised the public to remain vigilant, avoid being lured by promises of quick money, and to be skeptical of online interactions with unfamiliar people, as scammers frequently steal photos and personal details to deceive their targets. — DayakDaily
