The Bureau of Immigration has asked families of aspiring overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to stop escorting relatives to work for scam syndicates.

Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente issued the appeal as he disclosed that the latest batch of repatriates from Myanmar were forced to work as online scammers there and faced hunger, physical abuse, and threats.

A victim even had to pay $11,000 to the company in order to be released.

“This is already kidnapping and forced labor,” Tansingco said.

“What’s happening now is some of the worst kinds of trafficking we’ve seen. Apart from being trafficked and forced to work, they are made to become scammers as well,” he added.

The victims were four females and four males, all in their 20s and 30s.

“Of the eight victims, five were traveling with family members in the guise of going abroad for a vacation,” Tansingco said.

He then appealed to families to ensure that relatives do not fall prey to these illegal syndicates.

“Let us protect our families and not bring them to danger,” said Tansingco.

“We’ve seen so many of our kababayans victimized by these syndicates, do not be an instrument to bring them to situations that may jeopardize their safety,” he added.