Bureau urges public vigilance as fraudulent job messages circulate
The Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) has issued an urgent public warning over a fraudulent SMS scheme that is falsely promising employment opportunities in Israel, cautioning citizens not to fall victim to the deceptive messages.
The SLBFE confirmed that fake text messages are being circulated among members of the public, falsely claiming to offer job placements in Israel. Authorities have stressed that these messages have no connection whatsoever to the Bureau or any legitimate government-approved recruitment process.
A Growing Concern for Vulnerable Job Seekers
The warning comes at a time when many Sri Lankans are actively seeking overseas employment opportunities as a means of financial stability. Fraudsters appear to be exploiting this demand by targeting unsuspecting individuals with convincing but entirely fabricated job offers sent via SMS.
The SLBFE has urged the public to take note of the following precautions:
- Do not respond to unsolicited SMS messages offering employment abroad
- Verify any foreign job offer directly through the official SLBFE channels before taking any action
- Avoid making any payments or sharing personal information based on messages received via SMS
- Report suspicious messages to the SLBFE or relevant law enforcement authorities immediately
The SLBFE reaffirmed that all legitimate overseas job opportunities are processed through officially registered recruitment agencies and verified through the Bureau's formal channels.
How to Stay Protected
Members of the public who receive such messages are strongly advised to refrain from engaging with unknown senders and to independently confirm the authenticity of any job offer through the SLBFE's official offices or hotline. The Bureau also reminded citizens that legitimate recruiters will never solicit fees or personal details through informal text messages.
As overseas employment remains a vital source of income for thousands of Sri Lankan families, authorities continue to emphasise the importance of using only government-approved and SLBFE-registered channels when pursuing foreign job opportunities.
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