There are many types of scams targeting overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), such as recruitment scams, lending/investment schemes, “tanim bala” modus, and so on. Recently, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) has issued a warning against two schemes targeting OFWs, the “bitbit” and “crypto” schemes.
In separate incidents, the bureau encountered a case of “bitbit” scheme at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), and a case of “cryptocurrency” scam targeting Pinoys in the United States.
New Schemes Targeting OFWs: “Bitbit” and “Crypto”
Last April 1, 2025, agents from the Immigration Protection and Border Enforcement Section (I-PROBES) of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) stopped three women from boarding a flight (Scoot Airlines) bound for Singapore connecting to Thailand at NAIA Terminal 3, the Philippine News Agency (PNA) reported.
“Bitbit” Scheme at NAIA T3
According to BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado, the three women — aged 23, 25, and 50 years old — claimed to be full-time church volunteers going on a mission trip to Thailand. However, there were discrepancies in their documents, which led to further questioning.
Eventually, two of the women admitted that they were not church volunteers or missionaries. Rather, they were licensed teachers hired for illegal employment at a school in Thailand. Furthermore, they identified the third woman — the one they were traveling with — as their recruiter. Records show that this woman had previously left the country with another group of “church companions” — but they hadn’t returned to the Philippines.
Viado explained that the case echoed the “bitbit” scheme, wherein a frequent traveler tries to transport a group of passengers under false pretenses. Usually, these passengers are unaware that they would be forced into illegal employment. In this particular case, the victims have been transferred to the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) for assistance.
“Crypto” Scam Targets Pinoy in US
Another scam that’s been targeting Filipinos, particularly Pinoy migrants in the US, is the “cryptocurrency” scam. BI Commissioner stated that one of the rescued Filipinos in the controversial Myanmar “scam hubs” mentioned an alleged new scheme where victims are duped into investing in fraudulent cryptocurrency accounts, which promises high returns… with little to no risk at all.
The scam targets Filipino migrants in the US, luring them via social media and urging them to invest in cryptocurrency. When the victim sends money, the scammers manipulate account balances to indicate fake profit, persuading the victims to invest some more. Once they do, however, the scammers disappear with the funds, and victims are unable to withdraw their supposed earnings.
“We wish to send this warning to our kababayans abroad not to fall prey to this new modus,” stated Viado in a press release, as cited by GMA News. “The IACAT is working to ensure that those who continue to victimize Filipinos face the harshest penalties of the law.”
Bottom Line
The “bitbit” and “crypto” schemes are the latest additions to a growing list of scams that prey on OFWs. Once again, we remind everyone of that useful saying: “If something sounds too good to be true, then it most likely isn’t true!” This applies to job-related scams as well as lending/investment schemes that rob hardworking Filipinos of their time, money, and resources.
To give you a better idea of such schemes, check out this extensive list of scams and how you can avoid them!