This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase something through them, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting our blog!
Onlinejobs.ph has become a go-to platform for Filipinos seeking remote work opportunities, but many new users ask, “Is Onlinejobs.ph legit?” on Reddit, Facebook, and other social media platforms.
Why do these questions persist? Because, often, job seekers encounter postings that raise red flags, from pay-before-you-work scams to vague job descriptions. If you’ve stumbled upon this article wondering whether some opportunities on the platform are scams, you’re not alone – and your instincts might be correct.
Table of Contents
Is Onlinejobs.ph Legit?
Yes, Onlinejobs.ph is a legit job platform. Thousands of Filipinos find jobs on Onlinejobs.ph every month. A lot of people, both Filipino employees and foreign employers, trust Onlinejobs.ph or OLJ, and have found success to varying degrees.
We can personally vouch that we’ve found legit work on Onlinejobs.ph. But you don’t have to take our word for it, you can join online job communities, such as Online Filipino Freelancers on Facebook and r/buhaydigital on Reddit, and find many people vouching for the platform.
Many employers use it as a platform to seek skilled Filipino workers who are willing to do the job at relatively more affordable rates. Meanwhile, Filipino freelancers use OLJ to start their careers. After they gain enough experience, they eventually increase their rates and start earning big on Onlinejobs.ph and outside the platform.
But because it’s a popular platform, bad players will try to lure newbies into scams. So, you also need to learn to protect yourself from the bad players on the platform.
This guide aims to demystify Onlinejobs.ph, offering you practical strategies to distinguish legitimate job postings from potential scams. Armed with these insights, you can confidently explore opportunities while protecting yourself from fraudulent offers.
Video Guide: 5 Common Scams on Onlinejobs.ph
5 Tips to Avoid Scams on Onlinejobs.ph
1. Verify Info of the Job Poster Using Employer Search
The very first way to check if a job post on Onlinejobs.ph is legit is by using OLJ’s Employer Search tool. It’s a simple tool that you can use for any employer verification purposes you need to do on Onlinejobs.ph.
You can use this link to go to the Onlinejobs.ph Employer Search tool: https://www.onlinejobs.ph/jobseekers/employersearch/
When you enter the name or email of a particular employer on the tool, you check if there are any complaints lodged against this employer, as well as, if they have a paid subscription to OLJ.
There’s a higher chance that the employer on Onlinejobs.ph is legit if you get a message like below:
“We have found [EMPLOYER NAME] in our system and it is associated with a fully paid active employer account.
No complaints have been received for this employer [EMPLOYER NAME].
If there are no complaints and the employer has been found in our system with a paid active account, then you should be safe to be hired by this employer. You are also always protected by our jobseeker salary payment policy.”
This means that the employer has a paid subscription, has been verified by Onlinejobs.ph, and has no complaints lodged against them. So, you can apply to them with more confidence.
2. Examine the Job Description for Warning Signs
- Is the Job too good to be true?
There’s an old saying that goes, “If it’s too good to be true, then it probably is.” And honestly, it’s a rule that can save you from a lot of heartache – especially when job hunting online.
One scam I see all the time is the “too good to be true” job offers – like those that promise to pay you thousands just for converting PDFs into images. Sounds like a dream, right? But when you dig deeper, you’ll find there’s often nothing behind that shiny paycheck but a scammer trying to take advantage of your time and trust.
Here are possible red flags that a job may be too good to be true:
- No interview requirement.
- You are being asked to pay before you get the job.
- Little to no experience is required compared to other jobs of similar nature.
- Instant employment or rush hiring.
- Abnormally high salary.
- There is no information available about the company on the internet.
So, how can you protect yourself? Always do your homework. If a job offer sounds suspiciously good, take the time to check out the business. Look for their official website or any social media pages – they should have some proof of legitimacy. If you can’t find anything, or if it all seems too vague, trust your gut.
Block the scammer and move on.
- Is the Job Offer Too Low?
On the flip side, some job postings may offer lower-than-expected pay. While this could be a good opportunity if you’re just starting out and need some experience to build your portfolio, it’s important to be cautious.
From my own experience, I once took a job that offered a low hourly rate because it seemed like a quick and easy way to gain experience. It wasn’t long before I realized that the work, while simple, was way below the wage I needed to support myself. What started as a “beginner’s job” quickly became a frustrating dead-end because the low pay didn’t reflect the time and energy I was putting in.
To determine if a low-paying job is worth your time, ask yourself: Can this job realistically provide a living wage, or at least cover your online work expenses?
Also, consider whether the position offers any skill development or growth potential. If the job helps you build experience or opens doors for better opportunities, it could be a stepping stone. Always weigh your short-term financial needs against the long-term benefits of gaining experience or skills that can help you level up your career.
- Is Your Employer Asking for Your Personal Identification or Access to Your Personal Accounts?
Legitimate employers typically pay through trusted platforms like PayPal or Payoneer, but in some cases, they might request your personal bank account number for direct transfers. While this is sometimes okay, it’s important to stay cautious and only provide details necessary for the transfer. One alternative is using a service like Wise, which allows you to share account details securely without revealing personal bank information.
Something you should absolutely be wary of is employers who ask for personal IDs or sensitive information. These requests can be a red flag for identity theft or other fraudulent activities. Legitimate employers will not ask for personal identification information such as your government-issued IDs or passwords unless they are required for tax purposes or verification through trusted platforms.
Another huge red flag is when employers ask for a deposit or upfront payment. Real employers pay you for your work, not the other way around. If they request a payment for any reason, run.
3. Search for the Officially Published Information on Your Employer
- Company Official Website
When I’m considering working with a potential employer, one of the first things I do is run a quick Google search. Legitimate companies usually have some kind of digital footprint, whether it’s an official website, active social media pages, or articles mentioning them.
The company’s official website is my go-to for reliable information. I’ll check for details like their core values, history, and the services or products they offer. For smaller businesses or startups, I look for client testimonials, portfolio work, or even LinkedIn profiles of their key team members to ensure they’re credible.
One time, I found a job posting that looked promising, but their website felt off. There were no contact details and vague service descriptions. It was a red flag, and sure enough, a deeper dive into online forums revealed complaints about their unprofessional conduct.
- Company Official Social Media Pages
When considering a job, I always check the company’s social media pages like Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn. Legitimate businesses usually have an active and professional online presence. For instance, spotting consistent updates and positive engagement reassures me, while abandoned or complaint-filled pages are red flags.
Social media platforms can also give you insight into what kind of work you’ll be doing if hired. You might spot past projects, client testimonials, or even sneak peeks of company events, all of which can help you gauge if the company fits your professional goals. Plus, being familiar with their online presence gives you an advantage during interviews – you’ll have a better idea of their priorities and can tailor your answers to align with their needs.
- Is There Too Little Information on the Job and/or the Employer?
An employer’s job description is the rough equivalent of an employee’s cover letter and resume. This is their first filter to hire the best possible candidates to fill in the role that they need.
A legitimate business will put in the effort to create an accurate and detailed job description. It would be in their best interests to provide aspiring applicants with the necessary information needed about the job.
If a company or employer provides little to no information about the work and about themselves, tread with caution. These are telltale signs of a scam.
4. Ask Your Personal Networks and Use Social Media Support Groups
Aside from formal channels discussed previously, it’s also a great idea to search for information on your potential employer using your own personal networks or social media sites and groups that specifically discuss the concerns of employees & freelancers. You can find a number of these kinds of groups on Facebook groups and Reddit to name a few.
The easiest way to search for a company or employer using this method would be to type in the employer’s name in google and add “Reddit” / “Facebook” / “reviews” as part of your search query.
If the prospective employer is well-known or has employed a number of people previously, other employees would have likely talked about that employer already. Don’t be shy to ask other people to get an idea if working with your prospective employer will be worthwhile.
Lastly, even if an employer doesn’t have any existing threads or groups already talking about them, you can always post a question in r/buhaydigital or one of the other remote work groups.
5. Asses the Value of the Job
Lastly, even if a job is legitimate, it does not mean that it will be worth your effort and time to apply for it. There are many other considerations that are put into play that can greatly affect your decision on whether or not the job will be worth your time.
You should set your own objectives and timelines on what you want to get out of the job. Once you’ve achieved your desired objectives such as a monetary goal, added entry into your work portfolio, or a job recommendation, move on.
If there are too many drawbacks to taking on the job, it might be better not to pursue it despite it being a legitimate listing.
Here are a few self-assessment guide questions you can ask yourself before applying for the job.
- Is the salary too low for your skillset and experience?
- Will the compensation reflect the real cost of this job?
- Can you accomplish the job without compromising your other work or projects if any?
- Will successfully accomplishing this job lead to better job opportunities?
- Will this job improve my current skills?
- Does this job help me become who I want to be?
- Can I picture myself enjoying this work three months from now?
- Do you have any other better job offers?
- How much do you need this job?
Can this job pay for the essential work-from-home equipment I need to pursue a long-term online career? This is an expense most beginners forget to consider.
Your work-from-home job is a business. Investing in the right tools lets you do the job properly, comfortably, and repetitively.
And your most important tool, your body itself. Treat it well with an ergonomic work-from-home setup, from your chair to your table.
You don’t have to go broke before you even begin working online. There are cheap but workable options on online marketplaces like Lazada and Shopee.
Other Onlinejobs.ph Articles for Beginners
