Beware of Employment Traps

Negligent job-seekers are often one of the easy preys of rogues. Rogues, seeing through the eagerness of job-seekers in finding jobs, defraud money or other benefits from job-seekers by various tactics. To prevent loss, job-seekers should always stay calm and cautious to these employment traps. The followings are some of the common tactics of rogues. Job-seekers should be alert to them and seek assistance from related bodies when necessary.

Irregular transfer of posts

Some rogues offer good money to recruit clerks, transcribers, cleaners etc. for their “foreign exchange investment companies” or “sales companies”. They then encourage their staff to invest or to transfer to investment posts. After the staff give out money for investment, the rogues claim that there are losses in the investment and take the money.

Illegal work

There were cases where job-seekers were engaged in illegal work like unlawful fund-raising, loan-sharking activities and selling of pirated goods. The job-seekers were then made scapegoats by the lawbreakers during prosecution of the Police.

Charging unreasonable fees

Some swindlers invent reasons under the pretext of recruitment to impose unreasonable fees on job seekers in the name of different charges, such as registration fee, data processing fee, administration fee and documentation fee, etc.

Talent scout scams

Some people introduce themselves as representatives from modeling agencies or dubbing companies. They will approach passers-by and claim that they have great potential to be models in commercials, singers or movie stars, thereby inducing them to pay fees for training classes, beauty services or fitness courses, or camera charges, recommendation fee or deposits. However, no jobs may be referred eventually and the money paid will not be returned.

Vice traps

Many entertainment establishments are in fact vice operations. Job-seekers are often attracted by the good salary and sign the contracts before they get to know the real job nature.

Big spending on purchasing goods

Beware of sales jobs with good salary and high commission. If you do not wish to be a sales representative, don’t be persuaded to purchase goods blindly. While you want to be a direct dealer or agent, you should first find out the structure of the company and acquaint yourself with the goods for sale. If you find that the job involves hierarchical sharing of commission (i.e. pyramid selling) or that the prices of the goods are higher than the market prices, you should refuse to accept the job.

Theft of personal data

Some people, under the pretext of recruitment, solicit important personal data from job seekers, such as information on bank accounts and credit cards, etc. The personal data obtained will then be used for application for loan from banks or financial institutions in the name of the job seekers, who in the end will have to bear the responsibility of repaying the loan.

There are various employment traps, but if you are cautious and prudent, and inquire or seek assistance from related parties whenever you do not understand or are in doubt, you can avoid falling into the snares of criminals.

Below are some methods to detect employment traps:

·         Be realistic and sensible

Be pragmatic when you search for jobs. Don’t believe in job advertisements requiring barely any experience or qualifications but offering a good sum of money. Check if the salary offered and the job requirements are realistic and commensurate with the market level. You should have general knowledge of the company background, scope of duties and the trade or industry concerned before applying for a job.

Beware of safety when you go to attend job interviews. Be vigilant if the interview process is too simple. Some companies offer jobs immediately after interviews; some even offer jobs by simply requesting job seekers to fill out simple forms. Be alert when you are requested to provide personal data or documents which are irrelevant to the job you apply. Also, be cautious if you are persuaded to pay money or to transfer to other post during interview.

While you sign the contract, read carefully all the terms, including those stipulated in the staff handbooks. Don’t sign contracts immediately if there are terms that you are not clear about or those that are unfavourable to you, in which case you should request to take away the contract for detailed study. Companies generally allow job applicants to take away the contracts for consideration.

If you are offered a job, check whether your duties are consistent with the descriptions set out in the job advertisement or discussed during interviews. Moreover, be alert if your boss persuades you to transfer to other jobs relating to investment, buying and selling. Refuse such unreasonable demands and never perform illegal duties. If you commit any duties against the law, you may bear a criminal record that will ruin your whole life.

Ask for the purpose if you are required to pay fees. In normal practice, companies do not require their employees to pay anything. Moreover, you should not readily produce important documents such as your Identity Card, bank cards and cheques, etc.

To prevent loss, do not sign any contract or authorization such as bank authorization if you are in doubt.

Keep abreast of current affairs and beware of the tricks of swindlers. Acquaint yourself with the rights and benefits of an employee. If you have any doubts, consult your family or friends. Seek advice or assistance from related bodies such as the Police or the Labour Department when necessary.

The "Police Magazine" episode below shows some commonly found job traps and tips on how to avoid falling into these traps. Job seekers can browse the content (in Chinese only) through the related webpage of RTHK:

http://www.rthk.org.hk/rthk/tv/police_magazine/20080614.html