The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has issued another warning about rising ‘catphishing’ scams luring Filipinos with fake job offers on social media.
BI spokesperson Dana Sandoval said that the scheme has become more widespread, with 125 cases intercepted throughout 2024. On March 28, four additional victims—three males and one female—were stopped while attempting to board a Cebu Pacific flight to Malaysia.
The victims, tricked by false promises of legitimate jobs, were lured by deceptive social media ads promising attractive pay and coerced into creating fake online profiles, resembling to online love scams.
Last month, a total of 206 Filipinos were repatriated after being forced to work in scam hubs in Myawaddy, Myanmar.
Recent data, which mirrors trends observed in 2024, reveals that victims are primarily targeted through misleading ads offering high salaries, especially those aged 20 to 44.
Most victims, the BI said, are college graduates, with majority coming from the National Capital Region and nearby areas.
Majority of those intercepted last year were forced by their recruiters to pretend to be working in local companies, mostly in BPOs or call centers.
The victims are often trafficked to Malaysia, Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar—regions known for online scam hubs. Traffickers primarily use Telegram and Facebook for these operations.
Sandoval said the BI remains to take comprehensive measures and remains committed to fighting human trafficking, working closely with law enforcement agencies, including the DOJ’s Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT).
