Most Filipino applicants who lose money to fake Singapore job offers are not gullible. They’re hopeful. They’ve been waiting for a break, and the offer lands at the exact moment they need it. That’s the trap scammers are counting on.
This guide breaks down how to tell a real Singapore offer from a fake, whether you’re applying from the Philippines or you’re already in Singapore looking to switch employers.
How real Singapore jobs work (in short)
For foreign workers, jobs in Singapore require 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 employer in Singapore applies for your pass through MOM. If the application is approved, MOM issues an In-Principle Approval (IPA) letter, this is your proof that a real SG employer has a real approved role for you. Details on mom.gov.sg.
You should *never* apply for your own EP/SP/WP, your employer does it. If someone tells you otherwise, that’s already a red flag.
Red flags that almost always mean "scam"
1. Asking for 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. If someone asks for these, stop.
2. No IPA, just a "job offer letter" or WhatsApp message. Even with a genuine offer letter, you should not resign or fly to Singapore without a real IPA. Ask for it. Real employers provide it.
3. Offers that sound too good. SGD 5,000+ monthly for a role with no experience requirement, "free flight and housing", instant start. Compare the salary to actual Singapore market ranges. If it’s wildly above, it’s either fake or a bait-and-switch.
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Step 3: For Philippine-based applicants, verify the recruitment agency.
If you’re applying via a Philippine-side agency, it must be licensed by the Department of Migrant Workers. Check on dmw.gov.ph. Agencies with expired or no licence are illegal.
Step 4: Cross-check with the Philippine Embassy Singapore.
If in doubt, you can consult the Philippine Embassy Singapore or the DMW Singapore office for information on suspected scams. Contact info on philembassy.sg.
Step 5: Ask for a real video interview.
A real employer is happy to video call. A scammer often finds excuses, "camera broken", "CEO sa meeting lagi". If they can’t or won’t video call, reconsider.
Step 6: Read the employment contract carefully.
Once an IPA is issued, you should see a proper employment contract. Watch for vague clauses, unclear salary, unclear working hours, or illegal pass conditions. See our how to read an employment contract before signing guide.
Fees: what’s legal, what’s not
For Filipino workers bound for Singapore via DMW-regulated hiring, there are strict rules on what agencies can and cannot charge. Singapore’s side also has rules, for WP holders, for example, employers carry key costs. The exact rules shift over time, so check the current DMW rules on dmw.gov.ph and MOM’s employer-cost rules on mom.gov.sg.
General principle: if the Singapore employer or 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 immediately, including to any "new person" who suddenly offers to help recover your money. That is usually a second scam.
2. Save all chats, documents, receipts, and bank transfer references.
3. Report to the Philippine authorities, file a complaint with DMW at dmw.gov.ph.
4. Consult the Philippine Embassy Singapore via philembassy.sg if you’re already overseas when the scam becomes clear.
5. For SG-side scams involving bank transfers to SG accounts, report to the Singapore Police on police.gov.sg and via scamshield.gov.sg.
6. Tell your community. Warning groups of kababayans in the same village or city can stop others from falling for the same scheme.
Extra tips for online job-search safety
Use well-known job boards (JobStreet, LinkedIn, MyCareersFuture for SG residents, Indeed, etc.), still check each employer individually.
Treat any "recruiter" contacting you on Facebook, Telegram, or TikTok with added scepticism until verified.
Be cautious of "work from home" offers from Singapore that promise huge daily income for tasks like "reviews", "data entry", or "liking videos". These are almost always scams or money-laundering fronts.
Never share your passport, NBI, or bank details with anyone you haven’t verified.
#Jobs#Scams#Guides#Filipinos in Singapore#Direct Hire#Agency
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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. Asked to pay via GCash, personal bank account, crypto, or a random "agent" in the Philippines. Real recruitment agencies have proper invoices, receipts, and bank accounts under the company name.
6. No company background check possible. 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." Absolutely not. This is both illegal and often a scam to pocket your airfare. You should only fly to Singapore to work *after* the IPA has been issued in your name.
8. Requesting your full documents via Messenger DM from an unverified account. Passports, NBI, school records, legitimate agencies and employers use email, official systems, and identifiable company addresses, not personal Facebook accounts.
9. Mixing up jobs abroad with "training" fees. Training fees for a job you haven’t even been verified to be hired for are a classic pattern.
10. Fake agency websites. Scammers build convincing websites using stolen logos. Always cross-check against official DMW and MOM records, not just the website itself.
How to verify an offer step by step
Step 1: Check the Singapore employer.
Search the exact company name on the Singapore ACRA / BizFile database to confirm it’s a real registered entity. Cross-check against LinkedIn, does the company have employees with consistent job histories? Does the "HR" contacting you have a LinkedIn profile tied to the company?
Step 2: Request the IPA.
Once an offer is serious, your employer should provide an IPA letter. The IPA contains your name, passport number, employer name, salary, pass type. Verify IPA authenticity via mom.gov.sg. If the employer refuses to provide it, that’s a stop signal.
A legitimate Singapore job is almost always the result of applying, interviewing, getting offered, getting an IPA, and then preparing to move. If any step is skipped or moved around for you "as a special case", that’s the exact moment to slow down and verify. No real opportunity requires you to pay your way in.
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.
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