BI Warns of human trafficking scheme forcing Filipinos into catphishing

THE Bureau of Immigration (BI) expressed serious concern over the rising number of Filipinos falling victim to catphishing schemes linked to human trafficking.

In a statement released on Sunday, BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado revealed that 14 individuals were intercepted from their departure for illicit works in overseas scam hubs. 

On February 4, three victims aged 33, 25, and 27 were stopped at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1 as they tried to board a flight to Thailand. 

According to the BI’s Protection and Border Enforcement Section (I-PROBES), the passengers presented themselves as first-time travellers on a self-funded trip to Thailand. However, inconsistencies in their answers during initial questioning raised red flags, which resulted in their referral for further inspection.

It was then that the victims admitted that they had been recruited to work in Cambodia as customer service representatives for a business process outsourcing (BPO) company.

A similar incident occurred the next day, February 5, when eleven trafficking victims in their mid-twenties were prevented from boarding the same airline bound for Thailand.

Initially, the victims claimed to be students from a certain school, stating they were traveling to Thailand for a four-day field trip. However, inconsistencies in their statements, similar to previous cases, prompted further questioning by authorities.

It was then that the victims admitted that they were lured with promises of PHP50,000 monthly salary to work at fraudulent BPO companies in Pakistan. They were instructed by their recruiters to pretend to be students on vacation and to conceal their Pakistani visas. 

BI I-PROBES Chief Mary Jane Hizon informed the public about the alarming nature of these cases, explaining that young Filipinos were prone and vulnerable to being approached by traffickers. 

She said that the traffickers scheme involves promising these young individuals of legitimate employment opportunities in reputable BPO companies, only to traffic them into scam hubs where they are coerced to work as catphishers. 

Commissioner Viado condemns the scheme for placing Filipinos in dangerous situations with little to no escape. 

Meanwhile, the rescued victims have been turned over to the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) where they will be assisted. Authorities are now working actively to pursue legal actions against the recruiters.