PASAY, Philippines—The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has warned the public of a human trafficking scheme involving Filipinos being trafficked abroad to work as online scammers targeting Japanese nationals.
BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado issued the warning following the repatriation of a trafficking victim who left the country through an illegal migration corridor or what is commonly known as backdoor, on board a boat from Tawi-Tawi.
The victim was rescued with the assistance of the Philippine Embassy in Cambodia and is now under the care of the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT).
The victim, one of the 26 repatriated last April 16, shared that he was recruited by a foreign national and instructed to exit the Philippines through a small boat in Tawi-Tawi bound for Malaysia.
He was then trafficked across several countries—Malaysia, Brunei, Bangkok, and Laos—before ending up in Myanmar and Cambodia.
Initially hired as a Japanese translator, he was later forced to work in crypto-related scam operations that specifically targeted Japanese individuals. Despite promises of regular pay, he received only a one-time salary of USD 2,500.
“This case reveals a disturbing new trend where trafficked Filipinos are forced to be part of syndicates and are used to deceive foreign nationals online,” said Viado. “We are now seeing victims being exploited not only as targets, but also as tools in these international scam operations,” he added.
Viado reiterated the risks of using illegal exit points being exploited by human trafficking syndicates.
“We remind the public—especially those seeking overseas jobs—to avoid unauthorized travel routes and to be cautious of offers that sound too good to be true,” he said. “Always consult with the Department of Migrant Workers and verify job offers through proper channels.”
Authorities are now investigating the recruitment network involved to hold the perpetrators accountable. #
