Europe job scam: 1,700 aspiring overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) rescued

Dubai: The Philippines' Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) announced the rescue of approximately 1,700 aspiring overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from an alleged large-scale illegal recruitment scheme in Central Europe. The scheme allegedly involved fake job offers, with perpetrators arrested in Mexico on July 20, 2026. One of the key suspects, Mazhoor Ubongin Khusin, also known as "Maz," was apprehended by authorities in Pampanga.

Khusin, who operated under the recruitment agency ALJU International Manpower Services Inc., was accused of offering jobs in Poland, Lithuania, and the Czech Republic. The advertised positions, including factory work, farming, and hotel work, came with promised salaries of up to 90,000 Philippine pesos ($1,500) per month. Applicants were reportedly required to pay placement fees ranging from 80,000 to 130,000 pesos.

The DMW highlighted that Khusin and his alleged accomplices used deceptive tactics to pressure applicants into making payments immediately. Currently, five more suspects remain at large. DMW Secretary Hans Leo J. Cacdac emphasized that Khusin's arrest marks a significant development in ongoing cases related to the recruitment scheme targeting OFWs seeking better opportunities for their families.

He urged jobseekers to exercise caution when dealing with individuals offering overseas employment, especially those demanding large placement fees or promising unusually high salaries.