The government warns of a widespread fake page scam inviting people to work in agriculture in Australia. It emphasizes the need to verify companies through doe.go.th/ipd every time before transferring money and recommends consulting the Ministry of Labor hotline 1506.
On 21 Jan 2026 GMT+7, Miss Airin Panrit, Deputy Spokesperson of the Prime Minister's Office, stated that the government urges Thai job seekers looking for work abroad to exercise extra caution. Currently, scammers use online platforms such as Facebook, TikTok, and other short video platforms to create fake pages and user accounts advertising recruitment for overseas jobs, especially in agriculture, farms, or fruit picking in Australia. They claim these jobs offer high income and good benefits and allege to be legally registered foreign recruitment companies with the Department of Employment to deceive job seekers. Only companies licensed by the Department of Employment are authorized to send Thai workers abroad. Any individual or group claiming to arrange such work should be presumed illegal, and job seekers are strongly advised not to trust them.
"We reiterate to those intending to work abroad or being recruited to work overseas: before transferring money to any broker or company representative, verify clearly whether they are authorized to recruit workers for overseas employment or are employees or agents of a licensed recruitment company registered with the Department of Employment. You can check the list of licensed recruitment companies allowed to send workers abroad on the Department of Employment website at doe.go.th/ipd before proceeding, to avoid regret and financial loss. We also inform Thai workers traveling abroad to use one of five legal methods: 1) through a licensed recruitment company (registered with the Department of Employment), 2) directly through the Department of Employment, 3) traveling independently, 4) accompanying an employer from Thailand, and 5) being sent abroad by their Thai employer for training."
If job seekers experience hardship from being scammed by brokers for overseas work, or if they wish to work abroad, they can seek advice and assistance from the Central Employment Registration and Worker Protection Division at phone numbers 0 2248 4792 and 0 2245 6763, or from provincial employment offices nationwide, Bangkok Metropolitan Employment Offices 1-10, or contact the Ministry of Labor hotline 1506, press 2 for the Department of Employment.