How to Avoid Fake Job Offers in Singapore

To avoid fake job offers in Singapore, ask for the In-Principle Approval (IPA) letter, refuse every upfront fee, and verify the employer and agency yourself before you resign or fly.

How real Singapore jobs work (in short)

Foreign workers need a valid pass issued by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM):

• Employment Pass (EP), professionals
• S Pass, mid-skilled
• Work Permit (WP), specific sectors
• Some other special passes (training, dependent's work pass, etc.)

The Singapore employer applies for your pass. If MOM approves, it issues an IPA letter, your proof that a real SG employer has an approved role for you. Details on mom.gov.sg.

You never apply for your own EP, S Pass or WP; your employer does it. Anyone who tells you otherwise is a red flag.

Red flags that almost always mean "scam"

1. Upfront fees. The employer pays for the pass and, in most cases, relocation. You do not pay the SG employer placement fees, IPA fees or bank-guarantee fees.
2. No IPA, only an offer letter or WhatsApp message. Don't resign or fly without a real IPA.
3. Offers that sound too good. SGD 5,000+ a month with no experience required, "free flight and housing," instant start. That means fake or bait-and-switch.
4. Pressure and urgency. "Sir, decide now, ibibigay lang natin sa iba if you don't pay before Friday." Real Singapore employers do not hire that way.
5. Odd payment channels. GCash, a personal bank account, crypto, or a random "agent" in the Philippines.
6. No company background. You can't find the company on Google, LinkedIn, ACRA (Singapore's company registry) or any credible source.
7. "Tourist visa first, we fix the pass later." This is illegal and often a scam to pocket your airfare. Fly to Singapore to work only after the IPA is issued in your name.
8. Requests for your passport, NBI or school records by Messenger DM from an unverified account.
9. "Training" fees for a job you haven't been verified to be hired for.
10. Fake agency websites built with stolen logos. Cross-check against official DMW and MOM records, not the website itself.

How to verify an offer step by step

1. Check the Singapore employer. Search the exact company name on ACRA / BizFile. On LinkedIn, check that the "HR" contacting you is tied to the company.
2. Request the IPA. It shows your name, passport number, employer name, salary and pass type. Verify it with MOM. If the employer refuses to provide it, stop.
3. Verify the Philippine recruitment agency. A Philippine-side agency must be licensed by the Department of Migrant Workers; check on dmw.gov.ph. Agencies with expired or no licence are illegal.
4. Cross-check with the Philippine Embassy Singapore. The embassy or the DMW Singapore office can advise on suspected scams. Contact info on philippine-embassy.org.sg.
5. Ask for a video interview. Scammers say "camera broken" or "CEO sa meeting lagi."
6. Read the employment contract. After the IPA, check for vague clauses, unclear salary or working hours, or illegal pass conditions. See our how to read an employment contract before signing guide.

Fees: what's legal, what's not

DMW sets strict rules on what agencies can charge Filipino workers bound for Singapore. Singapore has its own rules: for WP holders, for example, employers carry key costs.

The rules shift over time, so check the current DMW rules and MOM's employer-cost rules. If the Singapore side asks you to pay fees to work there, something is off.

What to do if you've already paid

1. Stop sending money, including to any "new person" offering to recover it. That is usually a second scam.
2. Save all chats, documents, receipts and bank transfer references.
3. File a complaint with DMW.
4. If you're already overseas when the scam becomes clear, consult the Philippine Embassy Singapore.
5. For SG-side scams with transfers to SG accounts, report to the Singapore Police on police.gov.sg and via scamshield.gov.sg.
6. Warn kababayans in your village or city so they don't fall for the same scheme.

Extra tips for online job-search safety

• Use well-known job boards (JobStreet, LinkedIn, MyCareersFuture for SG residents, Indeed, etc.) and still check each employer.
• "Work from home" offers from Singapore promising huge daily income for "reviews," "data entry" or "liking videos" are almost always scams or money-laundering fronts.
• Never share your passport, NBI or bank details with anyone you haven't verified.

No real job asks you to pay

A legitimate Singapore job follows one order: apply, interview, offer, IPA, then move. If anyone skips or reshuffles a step for you "as a special case," slow down and verify.

Last reviewed April 2026. Agency rules and MOM pass requirements change, always verify current rules at mom.gov.sg and dmw.gov.ph before paying any fee or signing any contract.