MANILA – Around 1,700 aspiring overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) were saved from an alleged large-scale illegal recruitment scheme following the arrest of a man accused of offering fake jobs in Central Europe, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) said.

DMW identified the suspect as Mazhoor Ubongin Khusin, also known as “Maz,” who was arrested on July 20 in Mexico, Pampanga by operatives of the Quezon City Police District (QCPD)-Project 4 Police Station.

Khusin was arrested by virtue of a warrant issued by the Makati Regional Trial Court Branch 146 for alleged large-scale illegal recruitment.

The DMW said Khusin allegedly served as an officer of ALJU International Manpower Services Inc., a recruitment agency previously sanctioned for allegedly misrepresenting overseas employment opportunities, collecting excessive placement fees and failing to reimburse or refund affected applicants.

The agency’s authority to recruit workers for overseas employment was eventually canceled.

Authorities said Khusin allegedly offered jobs in Poland, Lithuania and the Czech Republic for positions such as factory workers, farmers and hotel workers, with promised salaries of up to PHP90,000 per month.

Applicants were allegedly required to pay placement fees ranging from PHP80,000 to PHP130,000 to secure the supposed employment opportunities.

The alleged scheme also involved tactics intended to pressure applicants into immediately turning over their money, the DMW said.

“The arrest of this illegal recruiter marks a significant development in the cases filed in connection with the alleged recruitment scheme targeting our OFWs who simply want a better life for their families,” DMW Secretary Hans Leo J. Cacdac said.

“Hindi natin titigilan ang mga illegal recruiters na ito at ang kanilang mga kasabwat na patuloy na nanloloko sa ating mga kababayan,” he added.

The DMW urged aspiring OFWs to exercise caution when dealing with individuals offering overseas employment, particularly those demanding large placement fees or promising unusually high salaries, guaranteed visas, permanent residency or immediate deployment.

The agency also reminded jobseekers to verify recruitment agencies and employment offers before making any payment.