BI warns foreigners against scammers offering fake entry permits

MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Immigration (BI) cautioned foreigners on Saturday against online scammers offering fake entry permits.

During the Laging Handa public briefing, BI spokesperson Dana Sandoval said they have received reports that individuals posing as immigration officers are offering fixing services for entry exemption documents and other services.

“Nalaman po natin that they are particularly targeting aliens that are temporarily barred from entering the country, dahil alam natin na sa ngayon ‘yung tourists ay hindi pa allowed pumasok,” she said.

(We learned that they are particularly targeting aliens who are temporarily barred from entering the country. We know that tourists are not allowed to enter the country yet.)

Sandoval noted that entry exemption documents are not issued by the BI but by foreign posts abroad.

“Marami po itong mga ganitong schemes na ito but essentially ini-introduce po nila ang sarili nila bilang employee. Once nakapagbayad na po ‘yung biktima, bigla na lang pong nawawala. We are coordinating with appropriate law enforcement agencies para mahuli ‘yung mga ganitong modus,” she added.

(There are many schemes like this but essentially, they are introducing themselves as employees. Once the victims pay the demanded amount, the scammers will then be unreachable. We are coordinating with appropriate law enforcement agencies so we can intercept these kinds of modus.)

In a statement on Friday, BI said that at present, only Filipinos, foreign spouses and children of Filipinos, foreign parents of Filipino minors, and foreigners holding immigrant and non-immigrant visas are allowed entry in the country.

Entry exemption documents are issued by foreign posts abroad to foreigners who wish to enter the country with tourist visas, according to the bureau.

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EDV