10 Filipinos paid to be released from scam hub in Cambodia - BI

Ten Filipinos had paid to be freed from a scam hub in Cambodia, the Bureau of Immigration said. 

The victims, who returned to the Philippines on September 7, said that they met their recruiters online. Eight of the victims pretended to be tourists when they left the country, while two others departed as overseas workers but were deceived by their recruiter.

In Cambodia, their employer had confiscated their passports and forced them to work as online scammers engaged in romance and investment fraud schemes.

They were subjected to torture for failing to meet daily quotas, confinement, and being forced to stand for up to 15 hours.

"Some of the victims revealed that they were forced to pay a penalty of USD 6,000-8,800 for refusing to participate in the scam operations," the BI said. 

Immigration Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado said that the victims' request for assistance was swiftly addressed by the Philippine Embassy in Cambodia, resulting in their safe return to the country. 

The 10 victims have been turned over to the proper authorities for assistance in filing charges against their recruiters. — Jiselle Anne Casucian/VBL, GMA Integrated News