CAGAYAN de Oro City — Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) are being urged to involve their families in major personal and financial decisions abroad, especially when dealing with people they meet online.

The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) said strong family support can help OFWs avoid costly mistakes and cope with emotional, personal and financial challenges while working overseas.

DMW Assistant Secretary Jerome Alcantara issued the reminder during KABALIKAT 2026: A Partners’ Conversation and Assistance for Migrant Workers held last week at Chali Beach Resort and Conference Center in Cagayan de Oro City.

Alcantara said the decision to work abroad should not be made by the worker alone because overseas employment also affects the family left behind.

“Kasama ang pamilya sa pagdedesisyon kung aalis ang worker o hindi,” Alcantara said.

He also warned OFWs about online love scams, where scammers build romantic relationships with victims before asking for money, loans, investments or financial help for supposed emergencies.

Alcantara said emotional attachment can make victims more vulnerable to fabricated stories and repeated requests for financial assistance.

He urged OFWs to maintain open communication with their families, particularly before sending money or making major financial decisions involving people they have met online.

“Kailangang handa ang lahat ng parties involved,” he said.

Think before you send

The DMW reminded OFWs to verify the identity and circumstances of people they meet online and avoid sending money to individuals they have never personally met or whose claims cannot be independently verified.

The agency said prevention remains a key strategy in dealing with online scams, while authorities continue efforts to identify and apprehend scammers.

“We work on prevention. We try our best to catch the scammers, pero medyo matagal-tagal na proseso ’yan,” Alcantara said.

For OFWs who believe they have fallen victim to a love scam, Alcantara advised them to seek help from the Migrant Workers Office in the country where they are staying.

These offices, he said, can provide assistance and support to distressed migrant workers.

Support doesn’t stop at departure

Alcantara stressed that family involvement should begin before an OFW leaves the Philippines and continue throughout the worker’s employment abroad.

For families, this means staying connected and being willing to listen when an OFW faces problems—whether involving relationships, finances or other personal concerns.

Meanwhile, DMW-10 Regional Director Emmanuel Toledo said the agency continues to assist returning OFWs in Northern Mindanao, particularly with their reintegration into their communities.

“For Northern Mindanao, we have assisted a lot of returning OFWs in terms of reintegration,” Toledo said.