Lately, I received an email from claimed to be Henry Tessmann, President & Chief Operating Officer of Concordia Hospital that I was SELECTED for the position of a Staff Nurse or caregiver in Concordia Hospital, Canada or Fraser Health Canada.

If you will read the email, you’ll believe at first; however, by reading the whole of it, the claimed to be Henry Tessmann will ask you to send money via Western Union amounting to P3,750.00 for the Canadian Embassy Interview Coaching which will be held in Concordia Travel and Tours, non existent business/establishment, is already suspicious. The email, which was from concordiahospital@hushmail.com is completely a scam.

I immediately called Concordia Hospital Human Resources Department, unfortunately, it’s 10:30 in the evening and their HRD is already closed. So what I did was further research from the internet and glad that I found this article dated March 09, 2012 from the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) website verifying that it is indeed a fake email recruitment letter.

Some things pondered me where the hell did they get my email and how the hell they knew that I’m a nurse by profession. This is very good example of scam and BEWARE!

If you’re curious about the email, YOU CAN READ IT HERE or here it is:

REMINDER: Please READ & UNDERSTAND this email message, it is
advisable for you to PRINT it.
After evaluation of your resume thru online application, we are
pleased to tell you that you are SELECTED for the position of a
Staff Nurse (Philippine Board licensed) and/or Caregiver
(unlicensed Nurse & medical allied course graduate) for Concordia
Hospital in Canada.
As one of Manitoba’s Top 20 Employers for two years running, the
Concordia Hospital has cultivated a reputation of being a great
place to work. We value work/life balance, workplace safety,
professional development and diversity.
You must attend the FIRST & LAST Canadian Embassy Interview
Coaching for the year 2012 on March 17, 2012 (Saturday) & March 18,
2012 (Sunday) from 9:00AM-5:00PM. WE, EMPLOYERS ARE NOW HERE IN THE
PHILIPPINES since March 11, 2012 (Sunday) together with our very
own Canadian Trainers.
Call us for inquiries strictly from 9:00am-5:00pm Monday-Friday
(12:00-1:00PM Lunch Break/3:00-3:30PM Coffee Break):
Landline nos.: (02) 509-3947
Cellular No.: 0916-383-66-68 (Company Mobile Phone)

We will start accepting inquiries starting March 12, 2012
(Monday)–March 16, 2012 (Friday) strictly from 9:00 A.M.-5:00 P.M.
only (12:00-1:00PM Lunch Break/3:00-3:30PM Coffee Break).

NO PLACEMENT FEE! NO PROCESSING FEE! NO SALARY DEDUCTION
OPPORTUNITY! NO SHOW MONEY! Airfare, work permit & working visa
will be shouldered by the employer, the only expenses that you are
going to shoulder is the medical exam fee & Canadian Embassy
Interview Coaching fee because this is on a DIRECT/NAME HIRE BASIS.

To better understand the process, we provide you with our
application procedure:

Application Procedure:

Sending of resume thru online application for Pre-qualification
(done)

Once selected, you will receive an e-mail message & a text message
from us telling you that you are selected for the position & we
will ask you to prepare the necessary requirements listed below
(done)

We will send an e-mail message requiring you to attend a 2-day
Canadian Embassy Interview Coaching which is a requirement by the
employer (done)

After receiving our e-mail message, you can call us for inquiries
or pay anytime the Canadian Embassy Interview Coaching at our
accredited payment center for SLOT RESERVATION (first step)

Attend the 2-day Canadian Embassy Interview Coaching (March 17 &
18, 2012 9am-5pm), get the required certificate, orientation with
the employer (March 17, 2012 9:00-10:00 AM) & signing of employment
contract with interview with the employer (March 18, 2012 4:00-5:00
PM)

After finishing the 2 day Canadian Embassy Interview Coaching,
receiving the required certificate, orientation with the employer &
signing of employment contract, you can now submit the necessary
requirements.

While the documents are still on process you have to get an
endorsement letter for medical examination (your choice of
clinic/hospital as long as it is accredited by DOH, POEA & MARINA)

After we received your documents (max. of 2 weeks after
mailing the documents), we will start processing your work permit
(max. of 4 weeks processing)

After the approval of your work permit, we will start processing
your working visa (max. of 4 weeks processing)

After the approval of your working visa, schedule for Pre-
departure orientation seminar (PDOS), interview in the embassy for
visa stamping & securing of pre-paid ticket advice

Deployment Date will be anytime July 2012 if no problem with the
results of your Medical Exam & NBI Clearance and there should be No
Fake Requirements. Next batch for coaching will be on March of 2013
if you are not going to avail this batch coaching & you have to re-
apply again.

Canadian Embassy Interview Coaching fee is 3,750.00 (Philippine
Peso), 100% refundable (no deductions) if not satisfied with the
employment package. Refunds are process at our office after the
orientation on March 17,2012Saturday at 10:00 A.M. Employment
package will be discussed during the orientation. NO OTHER HIDDEN
CHARGES.

Canadian Embassy Interview Coaching will be conducted at our office
at:
Concordia Travel & Tours
1739 Pedro Gil St.
Paco, Manila City
Landline no.:  (02) 509-3947
Cellular No.: 0916-383-66-68 (Company Mobile Phone)

TAKE NOTE: Canadian Embassy Interview Coaching that you are going
to attend are purely training & exercises, NO EXAMS REQUIRED,
nobody fails the training.

We will only accept those selected applicants who paid on or before
March 16, 2012 (Friday) until 12:00 P.M.  lunch time upon slot
availability. PLEASE TEXT US FIRST BEFORE MAKING ANY PAYMENT TO
CHECK SLOT AVAILABILITY. We will automatically replace those who
did not comply. IT’S A FIRST PAY, FIRST RESERVE BASIS!

REMINDER: PLEASE BRING YOUR ID with Picture DURING PAYMENT.
You can pay thru any WESTERN UNION Branches Nationwide, You can ask
somebody to pay for you if you are not available in the country or
busy with your work. Please ask for the TO SEND MONEY FORM & just
follow the format below:
Destination: 1739 Pedro Gil St.
Paco, Manila City
Amount (in words): Three Thousand Seven Hundred Fifty Pesos
Amount: 3,750.00

RECEIVER:
First Name: Henry
Middle Name: S.
Last Name: Tessmann

SENDER:
First Name:
Middle Name:
Last Name:
Date of Birth:
Place of Birth:
Nationality:
Telephone No.:
Mobile No.:
Present Address:
Permanent Address:
Occupation/Nature of Work/Business:
Name of Employer/Business:
TIN or SSS or GSIS No.:
The receiver is my:  employer

After payment, please text us the following information at 0916-383-
66-68 (Company Mobile Phone) for slot reservation:
MTCN (Money Transfer Control No.):
Your Full Name:
Name of Employer: Henry S. Tessmann
City/State/Province of Western Union you made the payment:
Date & Time of payment:
Example: 1468-906-899 / Juan De la Cruz / Henry S. Tessmann / SM
Hypermarket -Makati / March 12, 2012 / 08:00AM

After texting us the payment details, we will verify the validity
of payment online and we will text you back VERY IMPORTANT
INFORMATION & reserve your work slot. Maps & Directions will be
sent thru email to PAID & RESERVED Applicants together with the
draft of the employment contract.
TAKE NOTE: RESERVATION OF SLOT IS DONE AFTER WE RECEIVED THE
PAYMENT DETAILS. We will start receiving payment details for slot
reservation today, March 11, 2012 (Sunday)

We offer FREE FOOD & ACCOMMODATION to those selected applicants
coming from the province starting March 16, 2012 (Friday) 6:00 P.M.
ends March 19, 2012 (Monday) 6:00 P.M.  . We reimburse
transportation expenses just present to us the OFFICIAL
RECEIPTS/TRAVEL TICKETS of your travel expenses on Saturday March
17, 2012 10:00AM. Please call us for free shuttle service from the
airport or terminal.

As a company policy, all payments should be made at any Western
Union Branches NATIONWIDE. Please bring the proof of payment with
you on the training dates so that we will accommodate you. No
payments are accepted during training days & we will not entertain
walk-in applicants who are not yet paid during weekdays. Names of
paid applicants are forwarded to the Information desk/guard on duty
for them to easily identify who are allowed to enter office
premises & attend the training.

Schedule of Activities on March 17, 2012 (Saturday) & March 18,
2012 (Sunday)
March 17, 2012 (Saturday)
Attire: Smart Casual
9:00-10:00 a.m.: ORIENTATION (you can bring your parents, nearest
relative or your husband/wife)
10:00-12:00 p.m.: Canadian Embassy Interview Coaching
12:00-1:00 p.m.: FREE Lunch
1:00-3:30 p.m.: Canadian Embassy Interview Coaching
3:30-4:00 p.m.: FREE Snack
4:00-5:00 p.m.: Canadian Embassy Interview Coaching

March 18, 2012 (Sunday)
Attire: Semi-Formal
9:00-12:00 p.m.: Canadian Embassy Interview Coaching
12:00-1:00 p.m.: FREE Lunch
1:00-3:30 p.m. Canadian Embassy Interview Coaching
3:30- 4:00 p.m.: FREE Snack
4:00-5:00 p.m.: Interview with the employer & Signing of Employment
Contract (you can bring your parents, nearest relative or your
husband/wife)

FREE Training Materials will be provided such as Original DVD copy
of the training, plastic/brown envelope, pencil, eraser, ball pen

Here are the list of requirements to be submitted during training
days if available on hand, TO FOLLOW IF NOT AVAILABLE 1 set all
photocopied:
1.    Updated Resume with or without picture
2.    4pcs. Passport size picture (white background)
3.    Valid passport (if available, only needed during Embassy
interview)
4.    Employment Certificates (if applicable)
5.    Diploma or training certificate
6.    Transcript of records
7.    Birth Certificate (NSO)
8.    NBI Clearance (Abroad) (if available, only needed during
Embassy interview)

NOTE: NO EXPERIENCE REQUIRED BECAUSE THERE IS A FREE ON THE JOB
TRAINING WITH SALARY, WITH FREE ACCOMMODATION AND FOOD ALLOWANCE
WITHIN THE CONTRACT PERIOD IN CANADA. We offer working visa NOT
student visa.

We, Employers will be leaving by March 19, 2012 (Monday) to
immediately process your work permit.

Sincerely,
Henry S. Tessmann
President & Chief Operating Officer
Concordia Hospital
1095 Concordia Avenue
Winnipeg, Manitoba
R2K 3S8
http://www.concordiahospital.mb.ca

Just this evening, I received an email from Kai Palileo (Innovations Manager under the Starcom Medievest Group and currently the media agency of McDonald’s in the Philippines). The message is this:

Dear Adaphobic,

I would like to just send you a message regarding the post you made about the Free McDonald’s GCs, first and foremost, I would like to introduce myself, I am Kai Palileo and an Innovations Manager under the Starcom Medievest Group and currently the media agency of McDonald’s in the Philippines. This viral campaign is actually one of the digital initiatives I handled for McDo a couple of months back. It is not a hoax. I’d like to assure you that this was an authentic campaign in which my team was tasked to answer thousands of emails (there were only 2 of us answering each email) and in just a few minutes of launch, we received so many emails that we literally ran out of free GCs to give away in less than an hour. We already closed the campaign and the emails still keep coming in that’s why if you try emailing, it will already bounce back. Would also like to apologize if the call center was not aware of the promo as the call center is only equipped to take delivery calls and are only aware of store or delivery related promos. This feedback has definitely taught us to ensure that all channels are well informed of each and every promo that we do and it is very well noted and greatly appreciated.

If you would like to further authenticate my response to you, you may call our head office at 884 8053 or call McDonald’s head office instead of the call center.

Thank you so much

Sincerely,
Kai Palileo

I apologize for blatantly blogging that their promo is a hoax. It’s just I think that holding such kind of promo through email can be easily considered as scam/spam or phishing strategy (collecting emails) considered to be an untrusted thing without confirming if it is safe or not.