October 22, Colombo (LNW): The Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) has firmly denied any connection with recent fraudulent calls requesting additional payments from individuals seeking employment in Israel.
Gamini Senarath Yapa, Additional General Manager of International Affairs at the SLBFE, clarified that those who have already settled the required fees for employment opportunities in Israel are not required to make any further payments.
His statement follows a wave of complaints received by the bureau regarding a caller demanding Rs. 14,700 from job seekers, falsely claiming to be an official representative of the SLBFE.
The fraudulent scheme specifically targeted individuals preparing to work in Israel’s agricultural sector, many of whom had already finalised their financial obligations with the SLBFE.
Yapa confirmed that the message, which asked for a bank transfer of funds, was entirely false and did not originate from any official communication of the bureau. He added that approximately 123 people are set to depart for employment in Israel, and none of them should be making additional payments beyond what has already been settled.
“This individual misrepresented himself as an SLBFE official, asking for money to be transferred into a personal bank account. We want to make it absolutely clear that the bureau does not engage in such practices. The SLBFE operates with complete transparency, and all official financial dealings are handled through proper channels,” Yapa emphasised.
The bureau has urged anyone who receives such fraudulent calls to report the incident immediately through their dedicated hotline, 1989. This hotline is in place to assist the public in verifying any concerns regarding official employment procedures and to prevent job seekers from falling victim to scams.
