BI warns against illegal job offers on social media

Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco on Wednesday called on aspiring overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to refrain from accepting illegal job offers on social media.

"These recruiters will sweet talk you into giving your hard-earned money to them. In many cases, they will promise you assistance, only to leave you hanging at the end," Tansingco said in a statement.

This came after the Bureau of Immigration (BI) received a report from its Immigration Protection and Border Enforcement Section regarding the case of a 27-year-old victim at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 on Monday.

According to the BI, the victim initially said she was bound for Taiwan as a tourist.

Immigration officers, however, referred her for secondary inspection after noting inconsistencies in her documentation. They learned that she was bound for Albania where she was recruited to work in an electric company.

The victim later revealed that she was offered escorting services in exchange for P80,000, including her flight tickets. The price was initially at P120,000 but was lowered after she negotiated the amount.

According to the victim, she paid an additional P67,000 at the airport after she met her supposed escort, who introduced themselves as an Immigration employee.

The individual asked for another P10,000, which she did not pay.

The BI said the victim's case has been referred to the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking. — VDV, GMA Integrated News