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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Metro Manila devider 'Few slots left' scam hooks 1,700 jobseekers; recruiter nabbed

'Few slots left' scam hooks 1,700 jobseekers; recruiter nabbed

Published Jul 24, 2026 01:44 pm
Some of the jobseekers talk to police following the arrest of an alleged illegal recruiter in Mexico, Pampanga. (Photo courtesy of QCPD Station 8)
Some of the jobseekers talk to police following the arrest of an alleged illegal recruiter in Mexico, Pampanga. (Photo courtesy of QCPD Station 8)
A 40-year-old man was arrested in Mexico, Pampanga, on Monday night, July 20, after allegedly duping 1,700 overseas jobseekers by claiming that only a “few slots” remained for jobs abroad.
Operatives of the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) Project 4 Station served a warrant for syndicated illegal recruitment at the suspect’s rented house.
Police Lt. Col. Geoffrey Lyndon Lim, Project 4 Police Station commander, said the suspect allegedly posed as an agent or employee of a recruitment agency and promised applicants jobs in Europe, including positions as farmers, hotel workers, and factory workers in Poland and Hungary.
The suspect allegedly told applicants that they had to pay a certain amount to be prioritized for one of the few remaining slots.
Police investigation showed that the suspect allegedly started recruiting applicants in 2023 and expanded his activities in 2024, collecting placement fees ranging from P80,000 to P300,000.
Some applicants allegedly waited for as long as two years but were still unable to leave the country.
They later tried several times to recover their placement fees but received only promises from the suspect, prompting them to file a case, police said.
The suspect allegedly evaded arrest by using different identities, police said.
Police verification showed that he had 24 previous criminal cases, including rape, estafa, and violations of the Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act.
The agency linked to him lost its license in January 2026 after complaints mounted.
Lim advised those seeking overseas employment to verify the legitimacy of recruitment agencies with the Department of Migrant Workers and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration and warned them against immediately handing over money to recruiters.
The suspect is under the custody of the QCPD Project 4 Police Station and is undergoing the proper legal process.

Related Tags

METRONEWS illegal recruitment syndicated illegal recruitment job scam overseas jobs jobseekers placement fee QCPD Mexico Pampanga
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