NBI rescues 3 Pinoys tricked into working as scammers in Cambodia

Authorities rescued three Filipinos who were tricked into working as scammers in Cambodia, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) announced Monday.

In a statement, the NBI said the Filipinos were able to return to the country on March 16 following coordination with relevant agencies.

They were provided with medical assistance and counseling, according to the bureau.

NBI Director Jaime Santiago said the achievement is a testament to the “strong and unwavering partnership between nations in combating transnational crimes.”

This came after the NBI received on March 11 a video message and photographs of three Filipinos who were seeking help from the agency as well as from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The photos also showed that they were physically hurt.

According to the victims, they saw a job opening for customer service representative in Cambodia with a salary of $1,000.

The NBI said they left the country without going through the proper procedure.

On January 7, the victims flew to Dipolog City, Zamboanga del Norte. They then boarded a ferry to Basilan, and then from Basilan to Tawi-Tawi.

In Tawi-Tawi, the NBI said the victims boarded small boats and were brought to the sea. They were then transferred to a fishing boat until they reached Sabah, Malaysia.

Following this, the victims were transferred from one place to another until they reached Phnom Penh, Cambodia, according to the NBI.

Upon reaching Cambodia, they stayed at a compound and were not allowed to go out.

The NBI said they were being managed by Chinese bosses.

“Instead of working as customer service representative, the victims were given cellphones where they downloaded social media applications… They were ordered by a Filipino supervisor of the company to scam old-aged foreigners through cryptocurrency,” the NBI said.

They later received a wage of $300, lower than the $1,000 they were initially promised.

Due to this, the NBI said they decided to transfer to another company.

“Upon learning of their plan, the victims were brought out of the compound where they were beaten by Chinese individuals,” the bureau said.

The NBI said it will thoroughly investigate the case. —KG, GMA Integrated News