Numerous individuals in Mozambique have fallen victim to a job scam where they were duped out of substantial sums of money by a fraudster promising non-existent employment opportunities in Portugal.
According to reports, thirteen individuals in Mozambique’s capital, Maputo, disclosed that they had each paid amounts ranging from 20,000 to 60,000 meticais (equivalent to approximately $310 to $940 or £250 to £740) to an individual who claimed to facilitate their travel and documentation processes for jobs in Portugal.
Law enforcement authorities have apprehended a Portuguese suspect found in possession of 13 Mozambican passports, while two other Mozambican nationals are also currently in custody in connection with the scam.
One victim recounted his desperation to secure employment in Portugal, prompting him, like many others, to transfer funds to the fraudulent facilitator remotely, despite never meeting him face-to-face.
“Whenever I phoned, he said ‘in a meeting and I can’t talk now’,” the victim lamented.
Another victim, who relinquished her job in Mozambique under the assumption of a new opportunity in Portugal, now finds herself unemployed and disillusioned.
“The message I would like to give to others is just be very careful about this,” she says
The prevalence of such scams underscores the importance of diligence and scepticism when approached with promises of lucrative employment opportunities abroad, as individuals continue to grapple with the financial and emotional repercussions of falling prey to deceitful tactics.