Filipino human trafficking victim returns home after gambling scam in Myanmar
Philippine and Myanmar authorities recently helped rescue eight Filipinos who were trafficked by Chinese criminal gangs. The individuals, who included four men, were allegedly recruited to work in Myanmar for legitimate jobs, only to become involved in illegal gambling and cryptocurrency scams.
Criminal gangs kidnapped these people and took them to Thailand to work as sales representatives. When the men arrived in Myanmar, they were forced to work in call centers convincing people to invest in cryptocurrencies or gamble online, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).
Authorities arrest Filipina woman in Myanmar. They allegedly entered the country via the Myanmar-Thailand Friendship Bridge, a bridge between the country and Thailand, which is open only to citizens of both countries.
Authorities then contacted the Philippines to arrange for their return.
Common scams
Philippine Senator Risa Hontiveros reported that Chinese groups are behind the activities, saying they conduct illegal gambling and cryptocurrency scams, often targeting Filipinos.
- Acting Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Eduardo Jose de Vega estimated that 50 to 70 Filipinos may still be working for Chinese scammers in Myanmar. Another 50 may be captured by Chinese criminal organizations in Cambodia and Laos.
Last year, authorities helped at least 119 Filipinos return home.
The Department of Foreign Affairs advises Filipinos to be careful when posting job postings on social media. A recent statement from the ministry urged workers to obtain appropriate work visas to protect themselves from these common scams.
Human Trafficking in Southeast Asia
Senator Hontiveros recently issued a statement detailing another similar human trafficking incident. Authorities rescued the unidentified Filipino woman last month after traffickers sent her to Cambodia with the promise of a call center job.
The woman had to work 16 hours a day, 7 days a week, in slave-like conditions. This was the only way she could avoid torture and punishment. According to official reports, their superiors mistreated their Filipino colleagues. Hontiveros concluded that the gang also sent other victims to Myanmar.
A few weeks ago, Kuwaiti authorities received reports of a charred body in the desert. After investigation, they discovered that the man was Jullebee Ranara. The 35-year-old man traveled to Kuwait from the Philippines in search of work. She was pregnant at the time of her death.
Authorities suspect the employee's 17-year-old son was behind the violent crime.
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Source: www.casino.org
