The Bureau of Immigration (BI) apprehended a suspected human trafficker and four victims at the Clark International Airport (CIA) attempting to leave for Singapore on Christmas Day, December 25.
While the four victims initially presented themselves as traveling separately for tourism purposes, they eventually revealed to immigration officers that they were actually accompanied by a 38-year-old female escort.
Also, the victims eventually admitted that they were headed for Cambodia to work as encoders in a company similar to a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO), after being recruited by an Indonesian woman.
They also shared that they have been offered P60,000 salary to work illegally abroad.
Moreover, the escort confessed that she was directed by the recruiter to help the four victims gain entry into Singapore and proceed to Cambodia.
BI Commissioner Joel Viado explained that victims of syndicates involved in the illegal recruitment of Filipinos for call center jobs abroad often find themselves trapped in scam hubs, where they are forced to work as catfishers.
In addition to the recent interception, the agency has also thwarted several cases of suspected recruitment for scam and catfishing operations.
Catfishing, a common online scam, involves scammers creating fake identities and developing fraudulent relationships with victims.
They later exploit these connections by convincing victims to send money or invest in fake accounts.
Meanwhile, Viado noted that the interceptions show online gaming and scam hubs may be illegal in the Philippines, but they continue to operate overseas, luring Filipinos into scamming jobs.
The agency reiterated its strong warning to Filipinos about the dangers of accepting illegal job offers abroad.
