The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has issued a warning over a new stock market scam that lures Filipinos into fake trading platforms and pseudo investments operated by criminal syndicates.
According to the BI, victims are instructed to recruit other Filipinos to invest in these seemingly legitimate platforms.
Investigations revealed that those who failed to meet quotas or resisted orders were subjected to physical and psychological abuse, torture, intimidation, and deprivation to force compliance.
“These criminal groups are ruthless. They deceive Filipinos with promises of high-paying jobs and easy money, then subject them to abuse once they are trapped,” Immigration Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado said in a statement.
“Let this serve as a strong warning: no legitimate employer will require you to scam your own countrymen or invest through unofficial platforms,” he added.
The BI said eight Filipinos aged 20 to 30 were rescued and repatriated on December 31 after being trafficked overseas through online recruitment and social media offers.
On the same day, 19 more Filipinos were repatriated from Cambodia, including four who exited the country through a backdoor route in Palawan.
Viado urged the public to remain vigilant, particularly when encountering online job offers or investment opportunities.
“The Bureau of Immigration is working closely with law enforcement partners to track, disrupt, and dismantle these scam rings. We are committed to protecting Filipinos and preventing these syndicates from continuing to victimize our people,” he said.