MANILA – The Bureau of Immigration (BI) is sounding the alarm over an alarming trend: a growing number of Filipinos are being recruited to work for companies resembling Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) in various Asian countries, often under false pretenses.
During a press briefing at the Malacañang Palace, BI spokesperson Dana Sandoval revealed that approximately 118 Filipinos have been enticed to join “scam hubs” disguised as business process outsourcing (BPO) firms. These operations are reportedly targeting individuals already working in the BPO and POGO sectors.
“Many of our kababayans (countrymen) are being tricked into joining these scam hubs,” Sandoval stated, adding that the trend has been notably observed in countries like Cambodia, Myanmar, and Laos. “These are some of the countries where our kababayans go, and we’re seeing POGO-like operations proliferating beyond these borders.”
Filipinos are often drawn in by lucrative offers, including a monthly salary of PHP 50,000, along with promises of free travel, accommodation, food, and hygiene kits. Sandoval noted that while many recruits are aware of the risks, they are willing to take the gamble for what seems like a golden opportunity.
“Upon arrival in countries like Thailand, many find their passports confiscated and are smuggled across borders, sometimes by boat into the jungle,” she described. “The situation is dire; the stories from those who have been repatriated tell of compounds in remote areas where scam operations thrive alongside legitimate BPO businesses.”
Sandoval emphasized the stark contrast in treatment between the two groups of workers. Those in regular BPO roles are considered “lucky,” while their counterparts in scam hubs face severe penalties, including physical abuse for failing to meet quotas. Furthermore, workers often find themselves in a trap of “debt bondage,” with fees for release ranging from PHP 400,000 to PHP 500,000—money they supposedly owe for their recruitment.
The BI has already seen some recruiters apprehended and charged, but Sandoval warned that the problem persists. “Even if we intercept potential victims at the airport, as long as the recruiters remain active, the recruitment cycle will continue,” she said, highlighting the expanding market for such operations.
In a related statement, Winston Casio, director of the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission, urged Filipinos to think twice before accepting high-paying jobs abroad, emphasizing the risks involved. “If you are arrested alongside foreign nationals in these scam hubs, we will file criminal charges against you,” he cautioned.
As the issue escalates, the BI and other agencies are intensifying their efforts to combat the rise of these exploitative operations, but the lure of quick wealth continues to draw unsuspecting Filipinos into a perilous trap.
