Beware of Job Offers in Social Media: BI Issues Warning on Crypto Scam Trafficking

• The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has issued a warning to the public about job offers in social media that may be fraudulent and run by trafficking syndicates.
• The warning was issued due to the increasing number of Filipinos being victimized and forced to become crypto scammers overseas.
• BI has intercepted suspected victims at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) and Clark International Airport and is urging the public to coordinate with the Department of Migrant Workers when applying for legal work abroad.

To address the increasing number of Filipinos being victimized and forced to become crypto scammers overseas, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) recently issued a warning to the public to become cautious with job offers in social media as some of those are fraudulent offers run by trafficking syndicates that aim to lure people into illegally working abroad.

Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco stressed this warning as they recently intercepted another batch of suspected people being lured by a crypto-related trafficking ring at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) and Clark International Airport.

“We reiterate our warning not to entertain offers received on social media, and always coordinate with the Department of Migrant Workers when applying for legal work abroad,” he stated.

During a recent senate hearing, Senator Risa Hontivers, the one who disclosed the syndicate, pointed out that these increasing human trafficking cases were “an emerging humanitarian crisis perpetrated by the vilest of criminal syndicates.”

“We need to stop at nothing until those who collude with these syndicates are put behind bars. Anything short of this will only lead to more Filipinos being thrown to the wolves,” she emphasized. 

Timeline of Chinese Mafia Recruiting OFWs to be Crypto Scammers Abroad:

• November 21, 2022: Sen. Risa Hontiveros first revealed in a privileged speech that a large-scale human trafficking syndicate in the country recruits OFWs as call center agents, but later on turned them into crypto scammers. There were 12 OFWs that were rescued by a network of local NGO communities and met by Philippine officials after crossing the border into Thailand. (Sen. Hontiveros Reveals Plot to Recruit OFWs to be Crypto Scammers Abroad)
• November 29, 2022: Hontiveros further disclosed that there are more or less 31 Filipinos who may also be victims and needs rescuing in Myanmar. (31 More Filipinos May Be Trafficking Victims in Myanmar)
• January 20, 2023: The lady senator unveiled that an alias “Miles,” one of the Filipinos trafficked to Cambodia who was able to return to the country, has reached out to her office to seek assistance, as there are other Filipinos who need rescue in Cambodia. According to Hontiveros, the new hub of human trafficking operations could be in Cambodia. (Chinese Mafia Forcing Pinoys to Do Crypto Scam Still Active)
• January 26, 2023: The Bureau of Immigration confirmed that it has recently intercepted and rescued six suspected victims of a cryptocurrency trafficking ring at the Clark International Airport. (Immigration Confirms Rescuing 6 Alleged Victims of Chinese Mafia Forcing OFWs to be Crypto Scammers)
• January 27, 2023: Three victims shared their experiences in the hands of the syndicate. They named the main recruiter as Rachel Almendra Luna, who has agents in the Philippines who book and take care of the recruits’ tickets and requirements. The Bureau of Immigration also identified the involved immigration officer as Alma Grace David. (3 OFWs Turned Into Crypto Scammers by Chinese Mafia Share Experience in Senate Hearing)