The Philippine Bureau Of Immigration (BI) has reported that its Travel Enforcement And Enforcement Unit (TCEU) has freed six people from a supposed terrorist organisation “cryptocurrency trafficking ring.” The victims were reportedly about to fly out of Phnom Penh on January 15 when BI officers intercepted them with counterfeit return tickets, and responses to questions that raised suspicions that they were travelling under the guise of tourists but were actually meant to work abroad.
Alleged Liberation Of Victims Of The ‘Cryptocurrency Trafficking Ring’
Immigration Bureau Commissioner Norman Garcera Tansingco revealed that BI officers had intercepted the passengers when they were boarding an aircraft. On further questioning, the alleged victims also revealed that they had been recruited through Facebook to work at a call centre in Cambodia.
Acting Director of the TCEU, Ann Camille Mina, added:
They eventually admitted they would work in a call center.
Authorities Look Into Government Employees
Tansingco has promised to take action against any BI personnel who is involved with cryptocurrency trafficking syndicates. The passenger’s immigration officer, who had authorised their departure, has been suspended pending the results of the investigation. Tansingco expressed:
We also want to help identify and capture the illegal recruiters who lure employees into participating in their illicit activities… These people are the source of this social problem and they should also be held accountable for their misdeeds.
BI spokesperson Dana Sandoval informed that at least three persons are currently being investigated in this case. When asked if this crypto case had anything to do with human trafficking syndicates in Cambodia and Myanmar, she admitted: “That’s what we care about. It seems to be connected.”
Criminals have been known to employ call centres to recruit unsuspecting victims from Asian countries, scammers on dating apps and social media. One of the most commonly assigned tasks for victims of trafficking is “pig slaughter,” a type of cryptocurrency scam. As per Propublica’s report:
Tens of thousands of people in Asia and the US have been coerced into defrauding people of millions of dollars around the world. Those that refuse face beatings, deprivation or other dire consequences.
US officials have warned that the Crypto Pig slaughter scam is quickly becoming dangerously widespread. Last November, the US Department Of Justice (DOJ) seized seven domain names used in hog slaughter schemes. An FBI official cautioned, “Be very careful when you go on social media and dating apps and someone begins to form a relationship with you and wants you to start investing… Don’t get slaughtered.”
What are your thoughts on the Philippine authorities rescuing alleged victims of a cryptocurrency trafficking ring? Let us know what you think in the comments section.
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