Charges likely over alleged NZ jobs fraud - report

A New Zealand woman is likely to be charged with seven counts of fraud following reports of a large-scale illegal recruitment operation in the Philippines.

The Manila city prosecutor has recommended that recruitment agent Florida Brown face charges after seven clients complained she had misled them by offering non-existent fruit picking jobs in New Zealand.

The Philippine Daily Inquirer said the complainants paid a total of $10,600 - including $4134 in processing and placement fees - between July and August 2007 for the jobs.

Once she received the money, Ms Brown allegedly promised to send the clients to New Zealand within two months but the jobs did not materialise, the newspaper reported.

Prosecutor Jhosep Lopez told the newspaper that Ms Brown, who worked for DSB International Travel Consultant Management Services, had failed to respond to a subpoena to give her side of the story.

Department of Labour officials told stuff.co.nz news website they could not comment on the case last night, but planned to investigate.

- NZPA