Israel Jobs Message Offering Rs. 800,000 Salary Is a Phishing Scam

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For thousands of young Sri Lankans, a job in Israel is a ticket out of hard times, which is exactly why scammers keep using it as bait. A message now spreading on social media and messaging apps claimed that jobs in Israel were available free of charge, with no educational qualifications needed and a monthly salary of more than Rs. 800,000. We checked whether the offer was genuine. Here are the messages that carried it.

Social Media Posts:

A WhatsApp message carrying the claim is shown below.

A Facebook post carrying the same claim is shown below.

Facebook

Fact-Check:

The Link in the Message Is a Fake Phishing Website

The web address in the message, webapplicate.online, is not the official website of the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE). It is an unsafe, fraudulent link set up to steal users’ personal information and money.

SLBFE Confirmed the Link Is a Scam

We contacted the SLBFE media unit, which confirmed that the link was not official and was a scam. The Bureau said the racket misused its name, official logo, and photographs to target young men and women.

We also asked whether the Bureau was currently carrying out any official recruitment for jobs in Israel. It said that recruitment for Israel jobs had not yet begun.

The Bureau also published a notice on its official website warning the public about the fake link, available here. The notice said the fake site asked applicants for their full name, date of birth, National Identity Card number, gender, and mobile number, and that the Bureau had referred the matter to the Sri Lanka Computer Emergency Readiness Team (CERT). The warning was also reported here and here.

Israel Jobs Are Filled Only Through the Official Government Process

Recruitment for jobs in Israel takes place only through transparent, government-to-government procedures under the official Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) between the two countries. All official registrations are done only through the SLBFE’s official websites, slbfe.lk or services.slbfe.lk.

Anyone unsure about an overseas job offer can check it by calling the SLBFE 1989 hotline.

What Is a Phishing Attack?

A phishing attack is an online fraud designed to steal personal information such as passwords, credit card details, and bank account numbers. The attackers pose as a trusted organisation, such as a bank, a social media network or a government institution, and try to trick you into handing over information through emails, text messages, or websites.

Put simply, it works like fishing. Just as an angler uses a hook to catch fish, a phishing attacker uses a fake email or website to “hook” your personal information.

How to Protect Yourself From Phishing Attacks

Here are some of the most important steps you can take:

• Check that messages are genuine: If an email or text message looks suspicious, look carefully for spelling and grammar mistakes and check the sender’s address. An address with odd letters and symbols instead of a proper name may be a scam.
• Do not click unsafe links: Avoid clicking links in suspicious messages or websites. Hover your mouse cursor over a link to see where it really leads.
• Do not share personal information: Never give out passwords, bank account numbers or credit card numbers by phone, email, or text message. No trustworthy organisation asks for your personal information this way.
• Check website addresses: Before entering your details on a website, make sure its address begins with https:// and shows a padlock icon. This gives some assurance that the site is secure.
• Manage your passwords: Use strong, complex passwords and, where possible, a password manager. Avoid using the same password for different accounts.
• Use two-factor authentication (2FA): Turn on 2FA for every account you can. Because you must enter a short code sent to your phone or email in addition to your password, attackers are far less likely to get into your account.
• Keep your software updated: Regularly update the operating systems and software on your computer, mobile phone and other devices to close security gaps.

Following these steps will help you stay safe from phishing attacks and keep your personal information secure.

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Conclusion:

The WhatsApp and social media message claiming that jobs in Israel paying Rs. 800,000 a month were available without any educational qualifications was completely false and a scam. The SLBFE confirmed that the webapplicate.online link was not official, that it misused the Bureau’s name and logo, and that recruitment for jobs in Israel had not yet begun.

Do not click such links or enter your passport or National Identity Card details on them. Anyone unsure about an overseas job offer can verify it through the SLBFE 1989 hotline.