BI warns Filipinos of scams by illegal gambling syndicates

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) warned Filipinos on Wednesday that illegal gambling syndicates are luring them to work in scam hubs overseas.

Intelligence reports indicate these syndicates fund call center agents to act as 'brand ambassadors' and recruit peers for jobs abroad, despite the Philippines banning POGOs last year.

POGOs originally catering to Chinese gamblers now operate illegally in other Asian countries, with recruitment efforts targeting young BPO workers offered high salaries but ending up in scam hubs.

Recruits are often taken across borders through illegal means and face torture or debt bondage upon return to the Philippines.

BI spokesperson Dana Sandoval disclosed that these scam hubs have become rampant online since the ban took effect on January 1, 2025, with many activities now occurring in countries like Cambodia, Myanmar, and Laos.

Philippine authorities are coordinating with Southeast Asian nations to curb illegal POGO operations as only about 33% of the estimated 33,000 POGO workers remain in the country since the ban.