bi intercepts 4 workers lured in crypto scam hub abroad
august 23, 2023, 7:44 pm
manila – the bureau of immigration (bi) has intercepted four filipina workers lured into a “cryptocurrency scam” recruitment abroad.
in a statement on wednesday, bi commissioner norman tansingco said the cambodia-bound victims were former employees in a work-from-home setting.
they, however, were prohibited from departing last aug. 18 at the ninoy aquino international airport terminal 1 due to inconsistencies in their statements.
“this is a common modus of crypto scam hubs recruiting filipinos to work abroad,” tansingco said.
tansingco said this type of illegal recruitment is not only isolated for filipino victims but also reported to be recurring in other parts of the association of southeast asian nations.
the bi said the victims misrepresented themselves with fake local jobs before interception.
“the four women, all in their mid-20s and early 30s, initially claimed to be co-workers in a local pharmaceutical company and are traveling to cambodia for a vacation,” it said.
immigration officers found they were on a work-from-home set-up under a casino company before being offered over php51,000 monthly salary abroad.
“the victims admitted that their local employer arranged their trip to cambodia for them to work as customer service representatives, with a monthly salary of usd900 with free food and accommodation,” tansingco said.
tansingco reiterated his call to aspiring filipino overseas workers to exercise vigilance, noting how previously repatriated victims experienced physical and psychological abuse by their illegal recruiters.
the victims were transferred to the inter-agency council against trafficking (iacat) to look at possible charges against their illegal recruiters. (pna)
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