BI warns jobseekers as human traffickers exploit digital deceptions

MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Immigration (BI) on Wednesday warned the public against online human trafficking schemes after the agency noted cases of scams luring Filipinos abroad for work.

“We could see that as the world goes digital, human trafficking patterns have shifted as well,” said BI Commissioner Norman Tansingso in a statement.

Tansingso then cited several cases,, including two Filipinas who were repatriated from Thailand on Tuesday. They left for the country in late 2022 hoping to become customer service representatives but were instead met with sexual and physical abuse.

Both victims learned about the promised job through a Facebook post, said the BI.

“One of them worked as a love scammer who sent nude photos of other women online. Eventually, they were transported to work in online casinos and online betting hubs where they received no proper food and compensation from their employers,” said Tansingco.

Officers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1 also deferred the trip of a female, Russian-bound passenger on Monday.

While it was the passenger’s first time to seek work abroad, her overseas employment documents were that of returning overseas Filipino workers (OFW).

“Upon seeing irregularities in the documents, the secondary inspector found out that the victim’s overseas employment certificate has no record with Philippine Overseas Employment Administration and that her contract was not verified by the Philippine Overseas Labor Office in Russia or by the Department of Migrant Workers,” said Tansingco.

According to Tansingco, the said passenger found out about the job through a contact on Facebook named “Rose.”  The victim paid Rose a total of P215,000.

“The passenger then admitted that she has no personal knowledge of the appropriate documents and processes that she has to undergo to depart as an OFW,” said the BI.

The Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking is now conducting further investigations into this case.

“The bureau always strives to bridge the information gap between aspiring OFWs and the government, but we urge the public to be vigilant. Human trafficking is real and it is happening now,” said Tansingco.

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