What can be done to prevent people falling victim to fake job offers?

Police have arrested a man who pretended to be an army major and persuaded people to pay him money when he promised he could get them a job. Vientiane Times asked members of the public for their thoughts on this disturbing practice.

Mr Bounmy Bounphithilad, a resident of Vientiane province: I have heard about this scam but I haven’t paid any attention to it because I know the government is reducing the number of civil servants. And even if we can’t work for a state agency we can do other things that support the development of our country. Many people say that working for the state means they get a stable salary and have good job prospects. But I think that if we have good potential we can find work in either the public or the private sector and that whatever we do will be valuable. But I urge everyone to be on their guard and to check all the details before handing over money in order to get a job.
Ms Mountha Thalangsy, a resident of Luang Prabang province: This is not the only example of this kind of fraudulent practice. I hope that this man is severely penalised as a deterrent to other people. The law should be enforced to put a stop to this problem. Everyone should learn about the law and regulations to avoid being cheated. Before getting involved with anything that requires us to hand over money we should get as much information as possible to protect ourselves against any kind of scam.

Ms Chanmany Sitthixay, a resident of Saravan province: Everyone knows that parents want their children to get a job with a government department and become a government official. But the government is now limiting the number of civil servants. Unfortunately, some unscrupulous individuals are taking advantage of this situation, especially in remote areas where people aren’t very well informed about the law. I think the government should improve the rules and regulations to prevent any problems and plug loopholes to prevent people falling prey to scams.
 
Mr Phousoy Sipaseth, a government official in Champassak province: I know there are many families in my village whose children who have graduated want to work for a government department, especially in a government office or a ministry. It’s unfortunate that scams like this occur because it destroys the image of the organisation concerned as well as the hopes of parents and young people who want to work for the government. It also undermines the credibility of our country. Of course, unscrupulous individuals will do whatever they can to cheat people of their money and don’t care about the law. I know it’s quite difficult to tackle this problem as such scams are widespread. It would be good if the authorities provided the public with more information so that people are more alert to the problem.  
Ms Khat Thanalath, an employee in Xaythany district, Vientiane: I think this is a matter of concern and everyone should be on their guard when applying for work because scams like this are both financially and personally damaging. We should read more and become familiar with the government’s policies and rules. Most importantly, I think we should change our thinking about the value of jobs because every job has its value, especially if we are conscientious in our work. All jobs provide a stable income if we manage our money properly. In addition, government officials should set a good example and strictly comply with laws so that there are fewer opportunities for misconduct and scams.

By Lamphone Pasanthong
(Latest Update January 28, 2022)