THE Bureau of Immigration (BI) has issued a stern warning to the public about catphishing syndicates targeting Filipinos with promises of lucrative overseas jobs.
On Sunday, BI Officer-in-Charge Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado issued the alert after three alleged victims were intercepted at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 in Pasay City on Sept. 21. The trio, posing as tourists, were stopped from boarding an Air Asia flight to Thailand after authorities discovered they were carrying fake return flight tickets.
The victims confessed that these documents were provided by their recruiter, who instructed them to pretend to be traveling companions. They revealed that they were recruited via Facebook Messenger to work in Cambodia as customer service representatives, lured by the promise of a salary exceeding P50,000.
However, authorities suspect the trio was actually recruited to work for a catphishing syndicate operating under the guise of a legitimate call center. This syndicate, previously warned against by the BI, targets Filipinos and coerces them into engaging in illegal activities. They use dating sites to lure Western victims into investing in fake cryptocurrency accounts, exploiting their trust and financial vulnerability.
Commissioner Viado expressed his concern that many Filipinos continue to fall prey to these scams, despite the enticing promises of high salaries and incentives.
All three victims were turned over to the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) for assistance and support. The BI urges the public to exercise extreme caution when considering overseas job offers, especially those promising unrealistic salaries or requiring suspicious travel arrangements. Anyone with information regarding these syndicates is encouraged to report them to the BI or other relevant authorities.
