How to spot possible human traffickers online? DOJ-IACAT warns

The Department of Justice- Interagency Agency Council Against Trafficking (DOJ-IACAT) on Monday warned job seekers to be careful as human traffickers are finding their next victims on the internet.

“Isa sa mga talagang nangungunang modus ngayon ang laganap na pag-recruit, pag-promote at pag-advertise using online platform. So, karamihan po sa ating mga nabibiktimang mga kababayan, na-reach out sila ng kanilang recruiter or trafficker through the digital platforms, kaya tayo, pinapaigting natin iyong pagbabantay at pag-surveillance gamit ang mga online digital platforms,” said DOJ-IACAT executive director Hannah Manalili in “Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon.”

(One of the leading methods right now is the widespread recruitment, promotion, and advertising using online platforms. So, most of our victimized compatriots were reached out to by their recruiter or trafficker through digital platforms, which is why we are intensifying our monitoring and surveillance using online digital platforms.)

How to spot red flags in recruitment?

The DOJ-IACAT advised to always verify the identity of the recruiter.

“So, number one ‘no, pagdating sa mga online platforms, kung mayroong hindi natin nabi-verify iyong identity ng kausap, kung nagtatago sa alias or kakaibang username, isa na po iyan sa mga dapat na maging red flag,” said Manalili.

(So, number one, when it comes to online platforms, if we cannot verify the identity of the person we are talking to—if they are hiding behind an alias or an unusual username—that is already one of the red flags to watch out for.)

The agency also highly recommended always checking with the Department of Migrant Workers the legitimacy of the recruitment agency.

“Pangalawa, kung ang intensiyon ay maghanap ng trabaho o iyong post ay nag-o-offer ng trabaho, nariyan po iyong ating Department of Migrant Workers, mayroon po silang website kung saan po ay mabiberipika natin kung talagang lehitimo iyong nag-aalay o nag-o-offer ng trabaho. Kung hindi po, mag-ingat po tayo, kung maaari ay huwag po tayong makipag-transact dahil most likely po ‘no, ito ay for abuse or exploitation,” Manalili added.

(Second, if the intention is to look for work or if the post is offering a job, our Department of Migrant Workers is there; they have a website where we can verify if the person making the job offer is actually legitimate. If not, let us be careful, and if possible, let us not transact with them because most likely, this is for abuse or exploitation.)

But the DOJ-IACAT noted that law enforcers are surveilling the Internet for various forms of trafficking.

“Mayroon tayong NBI, PNP sa ilalim ng IACAT. Sila po ay mas pinapaigting nila iyong online surveillance pagdating po sa pagtingin ng mga platforms na ginagamit for abuse, exploitation, fraudulent misrepresentation,” said Manalili.

(We have the NBI and the PNP under the IACAT. They are intensifying their online surveillance when it comes to looking at platforms being used for abuse, exploitation, and fraudulent misrepresentation.)

The DOJ-IACAT advised the public to report any trafficking incidents to hotline 1343.

“Mayroon po tayong dedicated hotline for reporting of trafficking incidents, iyan po iyong ating 1343 hotline. So, maaari po kayong tumawag diyan at sumangguni kung mayroon po kayong intelligence or report, sinisiguro po namin na puprotektahan ang confidentiality and privacy of the source of intelligence,” said Manalili.

(We have a dedicated hotline for reporting trafficking incidents, and that is our 1343 hotline. So, you can call there and consult if you have any intelligence or reports, and we assure you that we will protect the confidentiality and privacy of the source of intelligence.)

“At maaari rin po kayong dumirekta ‘no sa Interagency Agency Council Against Trafficking central office sa Manila po. Tapos kung nasa ibang lugar naman po kayo, mayroon tayong taskforces sa mga DOJ regional prosecution office,” she added.

(And you can also go directly to the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking central office in Manila. Then, if you are in other areas, we have task forces in the DOJ regional prosecution offices.) — RSJ, GMA News