MANILA — The Bureau of Immigration (BI) reported the year-end repatriation of several Filipinos who fell victim to organized scam operations abroad, warning that despite increased public awareness, many Filipinos continue to be lured by evolving trafficking and fraud schemes.

The BI said the latest repatriation involved eight Filipino victims, aged in their early 20s to late 30s, who were rescued and returned to the Philippines on December 31 after being trafficked overseas.

According to the bureau, the victims were recruited through online job postings and social media offers, but were later forced to engage in fraudulent activities upon arrival abroad.

The group arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 aboard an AirAsia flight from Cambodia via Malaysia.

The BI noted the emergence of a new modus in which Filipino victims are coerced into participating in stock market-related scams. Victims are instructed to solicit fellow Filipinos to invest in supposed stock trading platforms or pseudo-investment accounts that appear legitimate but are fully controlled by criminal syndicates.

Investigations showed that those who failed to meet daily quotas or resisted orders were subjected to physical and psychological abuse, including torture, intimidation, and deprivation, to force compliance.

In a separate development, a second batch of 19 Filipino repatriates arrived the same day at NAIA Terminal 1 aboard a Philippine Airlines flight from Cambodia. The group included four Filipinos who left the country through an irregular migration route, commonly referred to as a “backdoor” via Palawan.

BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado issued a strong warning to the public, saying these syndicates exploit the trust and financial aspirations of Filipinos.

“These criminal groups are ruthless. They deceive Filipinos with promises of high-paying jobs and easy money, then subject them to abuse once they are trapped,” Viado said. “No legitimate employer will require you to scam your own countrymen or invest through unofficial platforms.”

Viado urged the public to be vigilant against unsolicited job offers and investment opportunities circulated online and to verify overseas employment and investment schemes through proper government channels.

He added that the BI is intensifying coordination with local and international law enforcement agencies to dismantle scam networks and hold those behind the operations accountable.

“The Bureau of Immigration is working closely with law enforcement partners to track, disrupt, and dismantle these scam rings. We are committed to protecting Filipinos and preventing these syndicates from continuing to victimize our people,” Viado said.