There Are Various Modes Of Labor Fraud In Hong Kong, The Consulate General Urges Indonesian Citizens To Be Careful

The Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia in Hong Kong gives instructions to Indonesian migrant workers before being vaccinated in the Victoria Park area, Hong Kong, Sunday (1/8/2021). (Antara)

JAKARTA - The Indonesian Consulate General in Hong Kong reminded Indonesian citizens to be careful of job offers with the lure of high salaries.

"Indonesian citizens in Hong Kong are advised to be careful and alert to messages or announcements posted on social media that offer high-paying jobs that may be fraudulent," the Indonesian Consulate General in Hong Kong said in an official announcement monitored by Antara Beijing, China, Sunday.

By citing information from the Hong Kong Police, the Consulate General said that there were at least three characteristics of fraud under the guise of online job vacancies.

First, fake messages or announcements on social media that offer high salaries, flexible working hours, and do not require certain qualifications or experience.

The second mode, the victim is asked to visit a fake shopping site and make a purchase and send money to a designated bank with a promised commission in a certain amount.

Then finally, the Consulate General said that in order to build the victim's trust, the fraudsters gave an initial commission. But after that, the perpetrator gave various reasons for delaying the commission payment and eventually disappeared.

Indonesian citizens are asked to immediately report to the relevant authorities in Hong Kong or to the Indonesian Consulate General in Hong Kong if they experience a crime of fraud.

The number of migrant workers from Indonesia is estimated at 180 thousand people, of which almost 100 percent of women work in the informal sector with a salary of 4,640 HK dollars or around Rp. 8.5 million per month.

Indonesia ranks second as the largest supplier of Hong Kong migrant workers behind the Philippines.

Along with the loosening of the COVID-19 health protocol policy marked by the reduction of the quarantine period to three days for international travelers, the number of Indonesian migrant workers entering Hong Kong is expected to increase.