HONG KONG (SE): The Caritas Asian Migrant Workers Social Service Project has discovered a link between foreign domestic workers living in shelter homes and their involvement in fraud-related activities.
In response, it partnered with the Diocesan Pastoral Centre for Filipinos [DPCF] in Central to launch an educational programme aimed at addressing scams within the foreign domestic worker community. The goal of this initiative is to provide them with the knowledge and skills necessary to prevent fraud and protect themselves.
Seminars were held at a shelter, as well as at the DPCF on July 27, drawing over 80 participants. Caritas AMP Welfare Worker Tiffany Ho Chak-lam led the workshops, which focused on common fraud tactics such as romance scams, money laundering, and investment fraud. The session was also recorded by the social media channel, TVB Kabayan.
Money laundering scams are increasingly affecting Filipino domestic workers in Hong Kong. Sister Corazon Demetillo, director of the DPCF, revealed that she has handled over 11 such cases in the past year, with many more potentially unreported.
Sister Demetillo explained that these fraudulent activities typically target foreign domestic workers by luring them into online gaming with the promise of substantial welcome bonuses.
In some instances, when the workers gather in parks, they are asked to provide their identity cards to install an online gaming app without being informed that their ID cards will be scanned. Their facial features are captured, and they are then supposed to receive the promised cash, but they never actually receive any application for the app.
This leads to law enforcement involvement, resulting in arrests and requiring foreign domestic workers to pay bail and attend monthly police interrogations. In two cases, the matters even proceeded to court hearings.
Sister Demetillo mentioned that while the cases of four individuals have been closed, and they were allowed to return to the Philippines, the entire process caused significant hardship. They faced financial difficulties due to job loss, emotional distress from sleepless nights and depression, and guilt towards their families.
Please scan QR code to view video of the talk:
