The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has warned of rising ‘catphishing’ scams targeting Filipinos with fake job offers on social media.
As the Philippines celebrates its ninth consecutive year in the ‘Tier 1’ ranking of the 2024 U.S. Trafficking in Persons Report, the BI is stepping up efforts to combat this growing threat.
Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado reported 125 intercepted cases in 2024, with four victims stopped on March 28 while attempting to fly to Malaysia. These victims were deceived by fake job ads on social media, promising high-paying jobs and coercing them into creating fake online profiles, similar to online love scams.
Last month, 206 Filipinos were repatriated from scam hubs in Myawaddy, Myanmar. Most victims are aged 20-44, college-educated, and primarily from the National Capital Region and nearby areas.
Traffickers often use Telegram and Facebook to lure victims, who are typically promised jobs in BPOs or call centers but end up working in scam operations in Malaysia, Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar.
Viado reaffirmed the BI’s dedication to dismantling trafficking networks and protecting Filipinos from exploitation.
“The Philippine government has been resolute in its anti-human trafficking efforts for nine years, and we are more determined than ever to bring traffickers to justice,” he said.IMT
