INQUIRER file photo / ALEXIS CORPUZ
MANILA, Philippines — Bureau of Immigration (BI) Commissioner Norman Tansingco has warned the public anew against a “love scam” that also uses the agency’s name to dupe people.
The warning came after an Australian sought the assistance of the agency after his Filipina friend, “Victoria,” was allegedly detained at Clark International Airport before her supposed departure to Australia for smuggling 18 kilograms of alluvial gold bars.
The swindler sent to the Australian a photo of a fake letter bearing the forged signature of the immigration chief. The Australian was told to pay $4,000 to secure an “ownership certificate” for her.
Dana Sandoval, spokesperson for the BI, said the latest modus was apparently a reversed version of “love scams” wherein the scammers dupe Filipino victims, particularly women seeking relationships via the internet, by claiming to be held at the airport and asking the women to deposit large sums of money in exchange for his freedom.
“It’s the same story over and over again for these scammers, but this time they are targeting foreign nationals using Filipinos,” Tansingco warned.