MANILA – A 28-year-old Filipina bound for Hong Kong was intercepted by Bureau of Immigration (BI) officers on June 23 after authorities found she had been illegally recruited to work abroad.

According to the BI Immigration Protection and Border Enforcement Section (I-PROBES), the woman initially claimed she was traveling to visit Disneyland. However, upon further questioning, she admitted that she had been recruited by unidentified Chinese nationals via the messaging app Telegram to work in a POGO-like company in Cambodia.

The woman said she was promised USD 1,000 to work in an online gaming firm suspected by authorities to be part of a scam operation targeting foreign workers. She claimed not to know the identities of her recruiters or future employers but agreed to the job offer due to its attractive terms.

BI officers noted several inconsistencies in her travel documents, prompting her interception at the airport.

BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado said the incident reflects the evolving tactics of trafficking syndicates that lure victims through online platforms. “We remain committed to protecting our kababayans from falling victim to these schemes. We thank President Marcos for his unwavering support in strengthening border protection and empowering law enforcement agencies to take decisive action,” he said.

The victim was turned over to the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) for assistance and the filing of charges against those responsible for her recruitment.