AFTER the rescue operations in the scam hubs of Laos, Myanmar, and Cambodia, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) yesterday renewed its warning to those looking to become overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) against illegal recruiters and syndicates.
In a statement, DMW Assistant Secretary Jerome Alcantara said the public must be vigilant against the modus operandi of unscrupulous individuals and groups looking to recruit them for exploitative or illegal labor situations abroad.
“What human traffickers do is recruit them online, promise them high salaries and benefits, thus enticing them to go with the human traffickers only to find out that they will be virtually imprisoned in scam hubs,” said Alcantara.
“We are, thus, warning our Kababayans of the perils of illegal recruitment and trafficking,” he added.
The DMW official said the public must be vigilant against the “red flags” of illegal recruitment and human trafficking activities.
These include “too good to be true” jobs, backdoor exit points, dubious employment documents, and other modus operandi done via either physical or online transactions.
“Filipinos must be cautious and vigilant against face-to-face and online modus operandi of illegal recruiters and syndicates to avoid being trapped in exploitative or illegal labor situations abroad,” said Alcantara.
The warning was issued immediately following the latest repatriation of 120 distressed Filipino trafficking victims from Laos, Cambodia, and Myanmar, where online scamming and cyber-fraud operations are happening.
In all, the DMW said 1,259 OFW victims of illegal recruitment and human trafficking have been rescued and repatriated from Laos, Myanmar, and Cambodia.
