The Bureau of Immigration (BI) reported the repatriation of six Filipinos from Malaysia on October 24 following police raids on workplaces allegedly operating as online scamming centers disguised as investment and customer service offices.
The six returnees, composed of five men aged 28 to 33 and a 37-year-old woman, were interviewed by BI Immigration Protection and Border Enforcement Section (I-PROBES) officers upon their arrival.
According to the BI, the Filipinos were recruited through Facebook and Telegram job advertisements offering customer service and call center positions with monthly salaries of US$1,000 to US$1,200. However, they were allegedly forced to participate in online gambling scams targeting unsuspecting individuals. Some also reported unpaid salaries and confiscated passports.
Further investigation revealed that five of the six allegedly entered Malaysia through the so-called “backdoor” route connecting Zamboanga and Tawi-Tawi to Sabah, bypassing regular immigration procedures. The BI Anti-Fraud Section also found that four returnees carried genuine Philippine passports bearing counterfeit departure stamps.
BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado warned Filipinos against accepting suspicious overseas employment offers.
"Do not be lured by promises of high salaries into jobs that could put your life and freedom at risk. Criminal groups use attractive job offers to deceive Filipinos, bring them abroad through irregular channels, and force them into illegal activities," Viado said.
The six repatriates were turned over to the NAIA Task Force Against Trafficking (NAIATFAT) for appropriate assistance and further investigation into their recruitment and the individuals who facilitated their travel.
