THE Bureau of Immigration (BI) has warned the public against foreign syndicates behind stock market-related scams targeting Filipinos into working overseas.
The warning was raised following the repatriation of human trafficking victims who claimed they were forced into fraudulent activities abroad.
Eight Filipino victims, in their early 20s to late 30s, were repatriated on Dec. 31 after being rescued from scam operations overseas. They arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 on an AirAsia flight from Cambodia via Malaysia.
BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado said the victims were recruited through social media and online platforms, and were later forced into stock market scams.
They were instructed to persuade fellow Filipinos to invest in fake stock trading platforms and bogus investment accounts controlled by the crime rings.
Investigations showed that the who failed to meet quotas or refused orders were subjected to physical and psychological abuse, including intimidation and deprivation.
On the same day, another group of 19 Filipino repatriates arrived at NAIA Terminal 1 on a Philippine Airlines flight from Cambodia. Four of them reportedly left the country through an irregular route, or “backdoor,” in Palawan.
“These criminal groups deceive Filipinos with promises of high-paying jobs and easy money, then force them to scam their own countrymen,” Viado said, stressing that legitimate employers do not require workers to engage in fraud or invest through unofficial platforms.
Viado urged the public to be wary of unsolicited job offers and online investment schemes, and to verify opportunities through proper government agencies.
He added that the BI is strengthening coordination with local and foreign law enforcement to dismantle scam networks and hold those responsible accountable.
