Con artists in Samoa are allegedly scamming hundreds of tālā out of local residents after they posed as agents for the government’s seasonal work employment scheme.
Samoa Observer reports some of the victims turned up at Faleolo Airport ready to fly out for non-existent jobs only to find no charter flight was scheduled.
Officials at the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Labour that administer the scheme confirmed the criminal activity.
Victims were fleeced of their money with the promise of being placed in the now lucrative work scheme.
The ministry has launched an investigation and have visited the home of the alleged scammers at Lotopā.
The Chief Executive Officer for MCIL, Pulotu Chiu Ling recently said the scheme had attracted more than 10,000 applicants, some of whom are public servants looking for better earnings.
Photo: Samoa Observer
