Mexico Proposes Prison Terms for Fake Online Job Ads

PRI Lawmaker Ofelia Jasso proposes adding Article 387 Bis to the Federal Penal Code to penalize the publication of fraudulent job offers through digital platforms. The initiative seeks to impose prison sentences and fines on those who publish or promote false employment opportunities through websites, social media, messaging services, or other electronic means. It suggests prison sentences of five to 10 years and fines ranging from 300 to 800 Units of Measurement and Update (UMA).

The proposal, submitted to the Justice Commission, addresses the growing concern of online labor fraud. According to Jasso, the increasing use of digital platforms for employment searches has also created opportunities for malicious actors to mislead applicants. Fraudulent job offers often put individuals at risk by compromising their personal data, financial security, or, in some cases, exposing them to more serious crimes such as human trafficking.

The initiative highlights how fraudulent employment schemes are frequently carried out through false websites, counterfeit profiles of well-known companies, and mass messages that promise immediate hiring without formal requirements. Such scams commonly circulate on social media platforms including Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp.

These practices not only undermine trust among job seekers but also generate insecurity in the digital environment, particularly for vulnerable groups such as young people, women, unemployed individuals, and migrants. Among the most common schemes are demands for payments to arrange interviews, accelerate hiring processes, issue contracts, or provide fraudulent credentials. In many cases, the ultimate goal is to gather sensitive information such as bank account details, which is later used for additional fraudulent activities.

Jasso says that the rise in cases of fraudulent employment offers, coupled with limited institutional capacity to prevent and prosecute these crimes, underscores the need to strengthen the legal framework. By creating a specific criminal provision, the initiative seeks to provide greater protection for workers and ensure safer conditions in the dissemination of employment opportunities across digital platforms.