The Fraser Health authority is warning Filipinos not to fall for a recruitment scam offering jobs at B.C. hospitals.

“We have recently received reports of a phishing scam posing as Fraser Health recruitment and asking for funds for an interview/training fee in the Philippines,” said a statement issued by the health authority which serves than 1.6 million people including residents from Burnaby to Hope to Boston Bar.

“Please do not respond or send funds if you receive an email like this, it is a scam. Fraser Health would never ask for funds tied to an interview process or recruitment. This phishing email has been reported to local authorities,” the authority said.

“When you post your resume on a job search site, you are exposing your personal data not only to potential employers, but also scammers, so be careful,” said Hans Leo Cacdac, administrator of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) in Manila.He advises job seekers to “think twice” before replying to emails with the subject “You are selected!,” especially those coming from “international companies” they have never heard of.

Cacdac says the emails promise employment in hospitals and care centers in Canada and the United States, at almost no cost to the applicant.

However, the applicants will have to pay for medical tests and interview coaching in the Philippines.

Cacdac cites a company called “Fraser Health” which recruits nurses and caregivers for supposed employment in Canada.

When asked about sending out mails to would-be workers, the real Fraser Health in Canada denied it had sent any.

The POEA said the fake company uses free email accounts at hushmail.com whereas the true Fraser Health uses its domain name fraserhealth.ca.

The inducements offered by the fake company are very tempting to many people looking for overseas employment, according to Cacdac.

The emails say applicants will not be charged a placement or processing fee and the cost of the air fare and work visa will be paid by the employer.

But the catch is they have to pay 3,750 pesos (US$88) for “Canadian Embassy Interview Coaching” plus medical tests which cost up to 5,000 pesos, the POEA say.

“Victims are spending hard-earned money in pursuit of non-existent jobs,” Cacdac said.

Cacdac is urging job applicants who received recruitment emails like these to forward them to info@poea.gov.ph for verification and action by the POEA and police.

Phishing scams are very common and target people in email messages, web sites, and phone calls to steal money.

Common signs of a phishing scam:

Spelling and bad grammar; 

Links typed in the email that don’t match the actual link address when you hover your mouse (but don’t click) on the link; 

Threats or offers too good to be true; and 

Spoofing of popular websites or companies. Often graphics or content that appear to be connected to legitimate web sites is used but links to phony scam sites or pop-up windows using web addresses that resemble the names of well-known companies but are slightly altered.