The Bureau of Immigration (BI) issued a warning to the public on Thursday afternoon about a human trafficking scheme in which Filipinos are being smuggled overseas to operate as internet scammers who prey on Japanese citizens.

BI Commissioner Atty. Joel Anthony Viado issued the warning following the repatriation of a trafficking victim from Cambodia, who left the country through an illegal migration corridor, or what is commonly known as a backdoor, on board a small boat from Tawi-Tawi.

With the help of the Philippine Embassy in Cambodia, the victim was rescued and is currently in the custody of the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking.

According to the authorities, one of the 26 repatriated victims shared that he was recruited by a foreign national who instructed him to exit the country through a small boat in Tawi-Tawi bound for Malaysia.

The male victim claimed that he was trafficked through various countries, including Malaysia, Brunei, Bangkok and Laos, before arriving in Myanmar and Cambodia. He was first employed as a Japanese interpreter before being compelled to work in cryptocurrency-related scams that targeted Japanese people in particular. He only received a one-time paycheck of USD 2,500, even though regular pay was promised.

Atty. Viado stated that this case reveals a disturbing new trend where trafficked Filipinos are used to deceive foreign nationals online and forced to be part of syndicates. Victims are also now being used as tools in these global scam operations, in addition to being used as targets.

The BI chief reiterated the risks of using illegal exit points being exploited by human trafficking syndicates.

He added that they remind the public — especially those looking for jobs abroad — to stay away from unapproved travel routes and to be wary of offers that sound too good to be true. Always check employment offers through the appropriate channels and confer with the Department of Migrant Workers.

Currently, the authorities are conducting a thorough investigation of the recruitment network involved to hold the perpetrators accountable.