Avoid Recruitment Fraud — How to Identify Fake Job Offers
April 19, 2026
|
fraud prevention
fake agencies
recruitment scam
worker protection
bmet
Every year, thousands of Bangladeshi families lose their savings to fake recruitment agencies and fraudulent job offers. Some estimates suggest over 15,000 workers are cheated annually, with losses totaling billions of taka. Here is how to protect yourself.
Red Flags — Never Ignore These:
1. Upfront payment demanded: Legitimate employers never ask workers to pay for a job. If an agency demands 3-5 lakh BDT before you have a confirmed visa, it is almost certainly a scam.
2. Guaranteed job promise: No agency can guarantee a specific job. The employer makes hiring decisions, not the agency.
3. No written contract: Every legitimate arrangement must have a written contract in a language you understand. Never accept verbal promises.
4. Passport confiscation: If anyone asks to hold your passport, refuse and report them. Passport retention is illegal.
5. Tourist visa for work: If an agency says you can go on a tourist visa and "convert" it to a work visa after arrival, this is illegal in all European countries.
6. Too-good-to-be-true salary: If an agency promises EUR 5,000/month for unskilled work, they are lying. Check realistic salary ranges on euro.khansland.com.bd/salary-calculator.
7. Pressure to decide immediately: Scammers create urgency. Legitimate opportunities do not disappear overnight.
How to Verify an Agency:
- Check BMET's approved agency list at bmet.gov.bd
- Ask for the agency's recruiting license (RL) number
- Call BMET helpline: 16777
- Search the agency on EuroWork: euro.khansland.com.bd/resources/agencies
- Check Google reviews and ask in community forums
How to Verify a Job Offer:
- Search the company website — does it exist? Does it list job openings?
- Check the company on LinkedIn — does it have employees? Real activity?
- Ask for the employer's trade registration number
- Contact the embassy of the destination country to verify if the company has hired foreign workers before
What to Do If You Have Been Cheated:
1. File a complaint with the local police station
2. Report to BMET at bmet.gov.bd or call 16777
3. Contact the Expatriates' Welfare Desk at the airport
4. File a case with the Wage Earners' Welfare Board
5. Post about your experience on euro.khansland.com.bd/community to warn others
The Government-Approved Maximum Cost:
The Bangladesh government has set maximum migration costs for different countries. For most European countries, the total cost (agency fee + government fees + medical + flight) should not exceed BDT 84,000. Any amount above this is likely excessive.
Protect Your Community:
If you know of a fraudulent agency or a fake job offer, report it. Share this information on social media, in WhatsApp groups, and on community forums. One warning can save a family's life savings.
Use EuroWork's free tools to apply for jobs directly — no middleman, no agency fees: euro.khansland.com.bd
Red Flags — Never Ignore These:
1. Upfront payment demanded: Legitimate employers never ask workers to pay for a job. If an agency demands 3-5 lakh BDT before you have a confirmed visa, it is almost certainly a scam.
2. Guaranteed job promise: No agency can guarantee a specific job. The employer makes hiring decisions, not the agency.
3. No written contract: Every legitimate arrangement must have a written contract in a language you understand. Never accept verbal promises.
4. Passport confiscation: If anyone asks to hold your passport, refuse and report them. Passport retention is illegal.
5. Tourist visa for work: If an agency says you can go on a tourist visa and "convert" it to a work visa after arrival, this is illegal in all European countries.
6. Too-good-to-be-true salary: If an agency promises EUR 5,000/month for unskilled work, they are lying. Check realistic salary ranges on euro.khansland.com.bd/salary-calculator.
7. Pressure to decide immediately: Scammers create urgency. Legitimate opportunities do not disappear overnight.
How to Verify an Agency:
- Check BMET's approved agency list at bmet.gov.bd
- Ask for the agency's recruiting license (RL) number
- Call BMET helpline: 16777
- Search the agency on EuroWork: euro.khansland.com.bd/resources/agencies
- Check Google reviews and ask in community forums
How to Verify a Job Offer:
- Search the company website — does it exist? Does it list job openings?
- Check the company on LinkedIn — does it have employees? Real activity?
- Ask for the employer's trade registration number
- Contact the embassy of the destination country to verify if the company has hired foreign workers before
What to Do If You Have Been Cheated:
1. File a complaint with the local police station
2. Report to BMET at bmet.gov.bd or call 16777
3. Contact the Expatriates' Welfare Desk at the airport
4. File a case with the Wage Earners' Welfare Board
5. Post about your experience on euro.khansland.com.bd/community to warn others
The Government-Approved Maximum Cost:
The Bangladesh government has set maximum migration costs for different countries. For most European countries, the total cost (agency fee + government fees + medical + flight) should not exceed BDT 84,000. Any amount above this is likely excessive.
Protect Your Community:
If you know of a fraudulent agency or a fake job offer, report it. Share this information on social media, in WhatsApp groups, and on community forums. One warning can save a family's life savings.
Use EuroWork's free tools to apply for jobs directly — no middleman, no agency fees: euro.khansland.com.bd
