Several big-time illegal recruiters including one from Mindanao have started to operate in Bohol, according to an official of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).

NBI-Bohol executive officer Atty. Arcelito Albao said during the Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) meeting on Monday that two people hoping to land employment abroad were recently swindled of large amounts of money.

Albao notified the PPOC that one of the alleged illegal recruiters identified herself to one of the victims as Emelda Chen from Cagayan de Oro.

She reportedly requires P300,000 as part of her scam telling victims that the amount will be used for the processing of documents needed for employment at a hotel in Canada.

Albao reported to the PPOC another suspected scammer who identified herself to victims as Cristina Nalla from Valencia, Bohol.

Nalla allegedly victimized and swindled 20 victims of P60,000 each by offering employment in London.

The two suspects remain at large but large-scale estafa charges have already been filed against them, said Albao.

The NBI official then issued an advisory to the public warning them of said threat as he urged Boholanos to refrain from trusting strangers offering enticing employment opportunities.

He advised the public to verify through the Philippine Overseas and Employment Administration and other government agencies the legitimacy of recruiters’ operations. (Rey Tutas)