BI warns OFWs against illegal recruitment schemes targeting Russia

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) warned aspiring overseas workers against suspicious job offers tied to Russia after intercepting another Filipino who was allegedly recruited for a security position in the country, officials reported.

BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado issued the warning following the interception of a 50-year-old Filipino man at the Mactan-Cebu International Airport as he attempted to board a Cathay Pacific flight bound for Vietnam on 10 October 2026.

According to the bureau’s Immigration Protection and Border Enforcement Section, the passenger disclosed during questioning that Russia was his final destination, where he had been recruited to work as a K9 handler.

Investigators learned the passenger was contacted through WhatsApp and interviewed via voice call before receiving his travel documents.

The recruiter offered a monthly salary of $3,500 with no upfront fees, but instructed the applicant to travel as a tourist to bypass immigration screening.

Immigration officers turned the passenger over to the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking for further investigation and victim assistance.

Viado urged job seekers to exercise caution regarding overseas employment offers that require applicants to misrepresent their travel purpose or conceal employment arrangements from border authorities.

The BI advised prospective overseas workers to verify all job offers through the Department of Migrant Workers and secure required exit clearances before departure.