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'Could you buy me load?' Small-time scammers target BI field officials

Published Jun 17, 2021 05:10 pm

Petty scammers who victimize field officials of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) have once again reared their ugly heads.

(Photo from BI Facebook page)

BI Commissioner Jaime Morente said fraudsters pretending to be top immigration officials would call via landline their intended victims and ask them for minor favors, like giving them cellphone load.

The BI chief said most of the victims were newly-appointed heads of provincial offices.

Such requests were granted in some instances, especially when the fraudster would tell the said field officials that he would soon visit his office.

Morente said almost all the requests were either denied, or simply ignored.

"What the scammers don't realize is that our field officials are trained to spot inconsistencies," Morente added.

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