TWENTY-FOUR Filipinos who were allegedly ensnared in an online “love scam” operation in Cambodia have been brought back to the Philippines, according to the Bureau of Immigration (BI).
The victims arrived on a Philippine Airlines flight from Phnom Penh on February 14, marking the end of their harrowing experience. Immigration officials detailed how these individuals, mostly in their twenties, were lured with the promise of high-paying digital marketing jobs, only to find themselves trapped in a deceptive scheme.
The modus operandi involved online recruitment through enticing job advertisements. These ads painted a picture of lucrative opportunities abroad, specifically as “love scammers” or “love finders” in the digital marketing sector.
However, upon arrival at their destinations, the recruits were forced to engage in fraudulent activities. They were tasked with targeting foreign nationals on various online dating platforms, manipulating them into sending money under the pretense of investment opportunities or fabricated romantic relationships.
Further investigation by the BI revealed the different methods used by the victims to leave the country. Sixteen of them posed as tourists, while two resorted to illegal backdoor channels. The remaining six departed as registered overseas Filipino workers. Additionally, one female victim was reportedly sent to Brunei, where she faced a similar ordeal of being coerced into communicating with targets through online dating applications.
BI Commissioner Joel Viado strongly condemned these illegal activities, emphasizing the fraudulent nature of the employment. “This is not legitimate employment. This is organized fraud with international victims,” Viado stated in a news release. He further asserted the bureau’s commitment to preventing the country from being used as a recruitment hub for global scam operations. The BI’s efforts underscore the government’s determination to protect its citizens from falling prey to such deceptive schemes and to combat international fraud.
