For people considering employment abroad, a job offer can represent an important opportunity for themselves and their families. But when recruitment information is inaccurate or fraudulent, acting on an offer without verification can result in financial loss and expose prospective migrants to further risks.
For Arun*, a document check at the Migrant Resource Centre (MRC) in Batticaloa helped prevent this from happening. After receiving a job offer, travel information and instructions to make a payment, Arun sought advice from MRC counsellors before proceeding. The documents were reviewed and found to be fraudulent. Following the counselling, Arun did not make the payment or continue with the travel arrangements and remained in his work as a teacher.
Arun’s case is one of several suspected recruitment fraud cases identified with the support of MRC Sri Lanka between April and August 2026. The cases involved forged visas and employment contracts, unregistered recruiters, payments made through personal bank accounts, passports retained by intermediaries and individuals falsely claiming to represent employers abroad. The cases demonstrate the importance of accessible and reliable information for prospective migrants, particularly when recruitment processes involve multiple documents, intermediaries and cross-border arrangements.
The experience of Dehan* and Dilmin* illustrates how convincing such schemes can appear. The two men began seeking overseas employment while working in Qatar after being introduced to a facilitator through a relative. The facilitator claimed to represent the human resources department of a dairy company. The men paid approximately LKR 278,000-288,000 (EUR 700–750), which they understood to cover visa fees, flight reservations, and travel insurance. In return, they received a set of documents that appeared to confirm a complete recruitment process, including electronic visas, employment contracts, job offers, insurance certificates and flight tickets.
However, inconsistencies in the documents raised concerns. The visas referred to positions as packing helpers, while the employment contracts identified the men as drivers. Following guidance from the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE), they approached the MRC in Batticaloa for further support.
The MRC arranged for the documents to be verified with the relevant destination-country High Commission. The verification confirmed that the visa and employment documents were forged. For Dehan and Dilmin, the verification helped them stop the process before travelling on fraudulent documents. Their case also revealed a wider concern. Another 19 people from the same village had reportedly been involved in an identical recruitment process. What initially appeared to be an individual case had pointed to a possible pattern affecting an entire community.
The cases reflect a broader challenge facing prospective migrants. Recruitment fraud can rely on convincing digital documents, informal intermediaries and trusted personal networks, making fraudulent opportunities difficult to identify. General awareness campaigns can help people recognise common warning signs, but when a specific job offer is presented to them, they may still need trusted advice to assess whether the recruiter, vacancy, or documents are genuine.
Through its counselling services, MRC Sri Lanka provides prospective migrants with information and guidance on migration processes and helps them identify potential risks. Where concerns arise, counsellors can also support document verification and referrals to the relevant authorities, including the police, migration authorities, government institutions or diplomatic representations.
The MRC’s role is also connected to broader prevention efforts. Individual enquiries can provide information about recurring recruitment practices, fraudulent documents or risks affecting particular communities. This information can help inform awareness-raising activities and encourage prospective migrants to seek advice before making payments or sharing personal documents.
Alongside individual counselling and referrals, MRC Sri Lanka uses public information campaigns to reach prospective migrants before they encounter fraudulent offers. In 2026, one campaign highlighted the risks associated with fraudulent job offers, unregistered recruiters, forged documents and requests for payment through unofficial channels. The campaign reached more than 46,500 people, generated over 87,000 views and received more than 3,700 engagements.
The experience of MRC Sri Lanka demonstrates that preventing recruitment fraud requires coordinated action. Prospective migrants need timely and reliable information, while counsellors and service providers need effective channels for verification and referral. Individual cases can help people avoid financial loss and other risks, while also providing information on recruitment practices that may affect others in their communities.
Over the past ten years, MRCs have become places where people can access information and support before making decisions that may shape their finances, safety and future. As recruitment schemes cross borders and make use of digital platforms and personal networks, these connections are becoming increasingly important.
By connecting prospective migrants with trusted information and counselling, supporting verification and facilitating referrals to relevant authorities, MRC Sri Lanka contributes to efforts to prevent recruitment fraud and promote safer, more informed migration.
*Names have been changed to protect the identities of the individuals concerned.