Philippines – Six Filipinos returned home on Saturday, October 24, after Malaysian police raided the offices where they had been working. The companies presented themselves as online investment and customer service centers. Authorities, however, say they were allegedly running online scams.
According to a press release by the Bureau of Immigration (BI), the group was made up of five men aged 28 to 33 and one 37-year-old woman. They had been working in Kuantan and Kota Kinabalu. Officers from the BI’s Immigration Protection and Border Enforcement Section (I-PROBES) interviewed them as soon as they arrived.
A Job Post That Turned Into a Trap
The repatriates told officers they first saw the job offers on Facebook and Telegram job-hunting groups. The posts advertised customer service and call center positions paying US$1,000 to US$1,200 a month.
Once they responded, they were contacted by people who arranged their trip out of the Philippines and into Malaysia. They described these facilitators as Filipino and Chinese or Malaysian nationals.
The work turned out to be very different from what was promised. Instead of answering customer calls, they said they were made to run online gambling scams aimed at unsuspecting victims. Some never received their salaries. Others said their passports were taken from them.
BI records showed that most of the six had tried and failed to leave the country before. The rest were first-time travelers. A few had no work experience at all, while others had worked in Philippine call centers.
Through the “Backdoor,” With Fake Stamps
I-PROBES found that five of the six allegedly left through the so-called “backdoor” route, traveling from Zamboanga and Tawi-Tawi to Sabah. This path skips regular immigration checks.
The BI Anti-Fraud Section also examined their documents. Four of the returnees carried genuine Philippine passports, but their departure stamps were counterfeit.
Where the Case Stands
All six were turned over to the NAIA Task Force Against Trafficking (NAIATFAT). They will receive assistance, and the task force will look into how they were recruited and who helped them travel.
The BI’s Warning
The Bureau said traffickers use the backdoor route to avoid inspection and move Filipinos into exploitative jobs abroad. It also warned that using fake stamps or fraudulent travel documents can lead to legal trouble.
“Do not be lured by promises of high salaries into jobs that could put your life and freedom at risk,” Viado said in the statement. He added that the Bureau will go after those who arrange illegal departures.
If you or someone you know is job hunting abroad, watch for these warning signs from this case:
- Offers posted only on social media or chat groups
- High pay for entry-level roles with no real screening
- Recruiters who offer to help you skip immigration checks
A safe job starts with a proper exit. Take the time to check before you go.