Avoiding labour-agency scams: a 2026 checklist
Scams rely on information gaps and promises that no agency can guarantee. Verify the licence, payment terms, contract and physical business before you commit.
Warning signs
Be cautious of promises of guaranteed approval, a work document without an employer or interview, unusually high pay, or a demand for a large payment before the process is explained. Government authorities, not agencies, decide approvals.
Use four verification steps
Check the relevant licence, require written payment terms, review the role and salary in a contract, and confirm a real office, published telephone number and verifiable business identity.
If you have already paid
Keep the contract, receipt, transfer records and messages. Do not send a further payment in exchange for a supposed refund or certificate. Seek help from the relevant regulator or law-enforcement authority promptly.
Use licensed, transparent channels
A legitimate service explains who makes the decision, what documents are required, what fees apply and when they become payable. It does not sell a promised government outcome.