The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) renewed its call for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and Filipinos seeking jobs abroad to remain cautious of illegal recruiters operating both online and in person, warning that syndicates continue to use deceptive tactics to lure victims into abusive work arrangements overseas.
The reminder was issued after the Philippine government repatriated 190 distressed Filipino human trafficking victims (HTVs) from Cambodia through what authorities described as a whole-of-government effort.
The DMW said many of the repatriates were recruited through fraudulent online job postings that promised high salaries but later led to exploitative and abusive working conditions.
As a key agency member of the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT), the DMW said it continues to work closely with the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) in strengthening protection measures for overseas Filipinos.
Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo J. Cacdad reiterated that applicants should treat job offers not processed through official channels as an immediate warning sign.
“Matagal na tayong nagpapaalala laban sa illegal recruitment, kasama ang IACAT. Ang paalala natin ay simple lang: kapag hindi dumaan sa DMW, iyan ang numero unong red flag. Ibig sabihin, walang lisensyadong ahensya, o kahit yung taong kausap mo ay puro Telegram, Facebook, o social media—malinaw na scam iyan,” sabi ni Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo J. Cacdad.
Cacdad also urged the public to verify the legitimacy of recruitment agencies and check if job orders are approved by the DMW, stressing that social media job ads that appear “too good to be true” are often connected to cyberfraud operations that have been spreading across Southeast Asia.
