Thai Employment Agency Rescues 80 Workers Scammed Over Overseas Jobs

On August 18, Somchai Morkatsrivun, director of the Department of Employment, revealed that approximately 80 job seekers reported being defrauded by a company offering overseas employment counseling, training, and skills testing. The company falsely promised to place workers in fruit-picking, packaging, and food-processing roles in Canada and Finland under two-year contracts with salaries of up to 70,000 baht monthly. Each victim paid processing fees of 65,000–85,000 baht, but the placements never materialized, resulting in estimated total losses of 20 million baht.

The Department of Employment is coordinating with the Anti-Human Trafficking Division to investigate the case and support victims. Officials will pursue legal action against those responsible for the fraud. Somchai emphasized the department's commitment to investigating thoroughly and assisting victims fully while taking legal action against all involved parties to prevent further deception.

Somchai warned that scammers use various methods to appear credible, including advertising high-paying positions, posing as legitimate companies, and collecting fees in advance. He urged the public to verify job placement companies through the Department of Employment's central registry at doe.go.th/ipd before transferring any money. He also encouraged prospective overseas workers to use only five legal methods: licensed employment agencies, the Department of Employment, independent travel, Thai employers sending workers, or Thai employers sending workers for training. Those in distress can seek advice at the central employment registry (02 2484792 or 02 2456763), provincial employment offices, Bangkok employment offices, or the Department of Employment hotline at 1506 extension 2.