TACLOBAN CITY – The Philippine government and migrant rights group Migrante International have renewed warnings for job seekers to beware of fake job offers abroad, especially those found on social media platforms.
The alert follows the recent rescue of over 200 Filipinos from illegal scam hubs in Myawaddy, Myanmar, where they were forced into online fraud operations.
Malacañang Press Officer Claire Castro urged Filipinos to coordinate only with legitimate agencies like the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) and the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) when seeking overseas jobs.
Earlier this year, at least 12 other Filipinos were also rescued from Myanmar after being lured through Facebook, WhatsApp, and Telegram. Victims were reportedly beaten, electrocuted, and forced to work without pay or rest.
Migrante International leader Garry Martinez praised the government’s swift action but called for stronger monitoring of job ads on social media.
“There should be a dedicated task force to combat online job scams,” Martinez said in an interview, warning that scammers often copy official logos and documents to appear legitimate.
He advised job seekers to always verify offers via the official DMW website or consult trusted contacts abroad.
“No matter how desperate we are, never rush into accepting online job offers,” Martinez added.
According to the Bureau of Immigration, 1,093 human trafficking victims were intercepted in 2024 alone.
(RONALD O. REYES)
