The Department of Migrant Workers has flagged fraudulent online job offers as the most common entry point used by human trafficking syndicates, following the recent repatriation of 190 distressed Filipinos from Cambodia who were recruited through social media platforms.
According to the DMW, most of the repatriated workers were lured by high paying overseas job offers posted online, only to end up trapped in abusive and exploitative conditions linked to cyber fraud operations across Southeast Asia.
The agency said the cases highlight how illegal recruiters have shifted away from traditional face to face recruitment and are now operating almost entirely through Telegram, Facebook, and other messaging platforms, allowing syndicates to move faster and avoid scrutiny.
Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo J. Cacdac said a key pattern in recent cases is the absence of any official DMW processing.
“Kapag hindi dumaan sa DMW, iyan ang numero unong red flag,” Cacdac said, warning that recruiters who communicate only through social media and messaging apps are almost always operating illegally.
The DMW stressed that legitimate overseas employment must pass through licensed agencies and approved job orders, both of which can be verified directly with the department. Victims in the Cambodia cases reported being rushed into travel arrangements, discouraged from asking questions, and promised salaries that were never documented in official contracts.
As a member of the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking, the DMW is working with the Department of Justice and the Department of Foreign Affairs to monitor recruitment patterns linked to cyber scam hubs in the region.
Officials noted that many victims initially believed they were entering legal overseas work, only realizing the situation after their documents were withheld and movement restricted.
The DMW urged jobseekers and overseas Filipinos to ignore offers that seem too good to be true, especially those that promise fast deployment, unusually high pay, or require no agency processing.
Final Reminder
If a job offer did not go through DMW verification or a licensed agency, it should be treated as a serious risk. Authorities advise reporting suspicious recruiters early to prevent further cases of trafficking and abuse.