The Bureau of Immigration has raised the alarm over a new trafficking route that funnels Filipinos into illegal online gaming operations in Pakistan, calling it a disturbing shift in the tactics used by international syndicates.
In a statement released Monday, BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado described the development as “deeply disturbing,” likening it to the shady operations of Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs).
“We are now seeing victims being funneled to Pakistan for illegal online work—clearly a new scheme from the same criminal playbook tied to illegal Pogos,” Viado said. “This shows how traffickers are becoming more aggressive and deceptive.”
The warning came after four Filipino travelers—one man and three women aged between their late 30s and early 40s—were intercepted at Ninoy Aquino International Airport on Sunday, July 6. Initially claiming they were headed to Hong Kong for a vacation, the group later admitted during a secondary inspection that they were bound for Pakistan to work at an online gaming compound as a cook and cleaners.
The BI revealed that the group had been recruited by a Chinese national who promised monthly salaries of ₱35,000 to ₱45,000. They were also coached to pose as tourists and provided cash to cover travel expenses.
“These people were promised jobs but were told to lie about their purpose of travel and wait for further instructions overseas. This modus operandi reeks of exploitation and abuse,” Viado emphasized.
The bureau has since alerted the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking to investigate the individuals behind the operation.
Viado reminded Filipinos to be vigilant and avoid offers that appear too good to be true, especially those that involve deceitful travel arrangements. “These victims were scammed and almost trafficked out of the country under false promises,” he said.
