BI warns public vs scammers claiming ties to immigration officials
THE BUREAU of Immigration (BI) has issued a warning to the public against individuals posing as friends or relatives of its officials and offering assistance for a fee.
In a statement on Wednesday, Immigration chief Jamie H. Morente said the bureau had received reports of individuals offering unauthorized and illegal services by claiming to have connections to the agency’s officers and employees.
“In our recent case, the scammer was able to get P200,000 from their victims, whose visa they alleged to ‘fix’,” Mr. Morente said.
The victim was made to believe the offer was made by a relative of an immigration official, he added.
Mr. Morente called on the public to immediately report suspicious offers.
BI earlier issued a warning against scammers using social media platforms for immigration-related services.
In July last year, the bureau also received reports of foreigners being offered services at a high cost by a local company to obtain documentary requirements for them.
Mr. Morente said the company was using the name of government agencies to justify its high fees.
“We do not condone illegal activities, and we are also considering seeking legal action against these scammers who besmirch the names of our officials and employees for their gain,” Mr. Morente added. — John Victor D. Ordoñez
