BI: Catphishers target 14 Pinoys

MANILA, Philippines —   Fourteen victims of catphishing have been intercepted within two days, with the Bureau of Immigration (BI) sounding the alarm on rising trafficking cases.

Filipinos aged between 25 and 33 were promised legitimate work at business process outsourcing companies, BI Immigration Protection and Border Enforcement Section chief Mary Jane Hizon said.

The victims would be trafficked into scam hubs and forced to work as catphishers, Hizon noted.

On Feb. 4, three victims aged 25, 27 and 33 were intercepted at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1 while attempting to board a Philippine Airlines flight to Thailand.

The victims said they were recruited to work in Cambodia as customer service representatives.

On Feb. 5, 11 victims in their mid-20s attempted to board a flight to Bangkok, Thailand.

Lured with a monthly pay of P50,000 in Pakistan, the victims were instructed to pose as students on vacation and conceal their Pakistan visas.

The scheme places Filipinos in perilous situations wherein they face limited or no opportunity to escape, trapped in illegal work within unregulated industries and fraudulent business operations, Immigration Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado said.

The victims were referred to the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking for assistance.

Charges will be filed against the recruiters, the BI said.