US-based Filipinos new targets of online scammers

OVERSEAS scam hub operators are not only trafficking Filipino workers but also targeting unsuspecting US-based Filipino migrants by persuading them to invest in fraudulent cryptocurrency accounts, often promising high returns with little to no risk. Bureau of Immigration Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado raised the alarm on Wednesday following a disclosure from Filipino trafficking victims repatriated from Myawaddy, Myanmar, that Filipinos in the United States were now among the targets of scammers. "This is the new trend in scam hub operations," added Viado. "I am raising the alarm to ensure that Filipinos are protected from scams." Scammers, he added, employ various tactics, including contacting Fil-Ams via social media messages to lure investors. Once the victims transfer their money, the scammers may manipulate account balances to show fake profits, convincing them to invest even more. Eventually, the fraudsters disappear with the funds, leaving the victims unable to withdraw their supposed earnings. Earlier, Viado hailed the arrest of alias "Jon Jon" by the National Bureau of Investigation operatives who were among the individuals repatriated on March 26. Alias "Jon Jon" claimed to have been victimized by the syndicate abroad, but was later tagged by his colleagues as one of the recruiters who offered work in Thailand but ended up transporting them to Myanmar, where they were abused and forced to work as scammers. Repatriates pointed to alias "Jon Jon," who allegedly volunteered to develop the new module targeting Fil-Ams. One repatriate even stated that "Jon Jon" pretended to be a victim, despite having recruited numerous illegal workers.