By Jun Ramirez
The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has warned the public against rampant cases of online love scams.
Bureau of Immigration (Manila Bulletin File Photo)
BI Spokesperson Dana Krizia Sandoval issued the warning amidst reports that a syndicate that targets Filipinas is again active.
Ms. Sandoval said that the usual scheme would involve alleged foreign nationals befriending and eventually courting Filipinas.
The foreign national would even send small gifts to the Filipina and her family to earn the victim’s trust.
"These scammers pretending to be foreign nationals would usually tell their victims of going to the Philippines to meet them. Upon their supposed arrival, the victims will receive a call from someone pretending to be an immigration officer, explaining that the foreign national is in trouble and demanding that money be sent right away,” said Sandoval.
“After sending the amount, the victim loses contact with said foreigner," she added.
She said recent victims of the syndicates came from Cebu.
“We heard of a victim paying as much as P40,000 to the scammer, and started doubting the story when the scammer asked for another P60,000,” said Sandoval.
Sandoval said she received information that another victim paid P18,000 last Monday to the syndicate for the release of a non-existing foreign national.