THE Bureau of Immigration (BI) has uncovered a new kind of scam hub abroad with fake job offers primarily targeting unsuspecting Filipinos who are looking for overseas employment.
Immigration Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado disclosed Tuesday the discovery of a so-called “romance scam” following the repatriation of a 24-year-old male victim from Phnom Penh after a successful operation coordinated with the Philippine Embassy in Cambodia.
The victim, whose name was withheld, narrated that he was required to initiate contact under the pretense of a mistakenly sent “wrong message” text, subsequently engaging in flirtatious exchanges with multiple individuals on various social and dating media platforms such as Tinder.
The victim also disclosed that he managed at least three fake female profiles and used their photos to deceive unsuspecting targets.
He recounted that, due to his failure to meet performance expectations and the grueling 15-hour work shifts, his employer would tap his head with force or activate stun batons near him to intimidate and instill fear.
Viado urged the public to stay vigilant and cautious, as trafficking hides behind online job offers, making it even more crucial for Filipinos to verify employment opportunities and report red flags to authorities.
“These aren’t just your run-of-the-mill online scams — we’re talking about full-blown operations linked to human trafficking,” said Viado. “Victims aren’t just losing money; they’re being thrown to do shady deals.”
Also repatriated from Cambodia were four Filipinos who also fell victim to a job scam syndicate operating in Southeast Asia.
According to Viado, three victims left the country as tourists, while one departed using the southern “backdoor.”
The men, ages 27 to 46, said that they were enticed by online job offers promising high salaries and quick deployment to Thailand but on arrival, they were diverted to Cambodia, where they were forced to engage in fraudulent online activities such as love scams and phishing operations targeting foreign nationals.
One of the victims recounted traveling from Palawan to Kota Kinabalu via a speedboat, then onward to Thailand, Myanmar, and eventually Cambodia.
He described experiencing maltreatment, long working hours, and months without pay — eventually escaping and seeking help from the Philippine Embassy.
Viado said that measures are being strengthened to prevent similar incidents at airports and seaports, while authorities coordinate closely with international and local agencies.
An investigation is underway involving individuals possibly linked to trafficking.
“We are investigating all leads, including internal lapses, and will not hesitate to file charges against any personnel found to be complicit to this crime,” Viado said.
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