The Bureau of Immigration (BI) emphasized on Friday the importance of vigilance among overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) against suspect job offers from abroad.
The alert followed an incident where an OFW, who had served as a domestic helper in Bahrain for close to two years, was duped by a fraudulent “love scam” syndicate. During a layover in Dubai, the victim was approached by a man who tantalized her with a high-paying call center job in Thailand that promised a monthly wage of Php 50,000.
Seduced by the lucrative offer, the OFW chose to fly to Bangkok rather than return to the Philippines. Unfortunately, upon her arrival, she was shuttled to the Chiang Rai province and later smuggled into Laos by boat. Tragically, she found herself forced to work for the very scam syndicate that duped her and did not receive any compensation.
BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco issued a stern warning: “Beware of strangers who will approach you with offers of high-paying jobs overseas. They only seek to exploit you, leaving your dependent families in distress.”
Fortuitously, the victim managed to escape the syndicate’s clutches, sought help from the Philippine Embassy in Vientianne, and returned safely to her homeland.
In the past, the BI has disseminated multiple advisories cautioning Filipinos about syndicates luring individuals with promises of employment in fake call centers, only to exploit them as scammers.