The Bureau of Immigration (BI) reported that human traffickers primarily use Telegram and Facebook to lure Filipinos with fraudulent job offers, eventually compelling them to work in scam hubs.
"The victims are often trafficked to Malaysia, Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar—regions known for online scam hubs. Traffickers primarily use Telegram and Facebook for these operations," the BI stated.
BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado disclosed that "catphishing" scams have increased significantly, with 125 cases intercepted in 2024.
He also revealed that on March 28, four individuals—three men and one woman—were stopped while attempting to board a Cebu Pacific flight to Malaysia.
Victims were tricked by false promises of legitimate employment, lured through misleading social media ads offering high salaries, and forced into creating fake online profiles, similar to those used in online love scams.
Last month, a total of 206 Filipinos were brought back to the country after being exploited in scam hubs in Myawaddy, Myanmar.
Data from recent reports, reflecting trends in 2024, reveals that individuals, especially those aged 20 to 44, are mostly drawn in by false ads promoting high-paying job offers.
According to the BI, the largest group of victims consists of college graduates, most of whom are from the National Capital Region (NCR) and its neighboring regions.
The majority of those intercepted last year were forced by their recruiters to pose as employees of local companies, mostly in Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) firms or call centers.
Ultimately, the agency reaffirmed its commitment to combating human trafficking, emphasizing that it continues to implement comprehensive measures and work closely with law enforcement agencies, including the DOJ’s Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT).
