MANILA, Philippines — A proposal seeking to investigate the proliferation of online job scammers preying on Filipinos who want to work abroad has been filed before the House of Representatives.
“There have been reports of Filipinos being victimized by local placement agencies for non-existent jobs abroad and syndicates offering high-paying jobs, but the jobseeker ends up in a dubious cryptocurrency group,” House Deputy Speaker Camille Villar said yesterday.
Villar, who represents the lone district of Las Piñas, filed House Resolution 899 seeking to inquire into the proliferation of these scammers.
“A full-blown investigation is needed to unmask those behind the illegal recruitment ring and pursue a crackdown against scammers,” Villar said.
She warned young Filipino jobseekers against trafficking syndicates that lure people through social media into working for dubious companies abroad.
This is particularly organizations that place purported job postings or comment on trending posts on social media platforms to make it appear they would get their dream job.
The Bureau of Immigration had rescued six victims of a cryptocurrency ring operating abroad, with some being offered a monthly salary of P40,000 or $800 to $1,000.
These jobseekers were told they would initially leave the Philippines as tourists.