Scammers preying on OFWs desperate for passports for employment abroad

Amid the challenges in getting passport online appointments, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) cautioned the public against online appointment fixers.

According to Abby Espiritu’s Stand for Truth, scammers and fixers are taking advantage of the challenges in getting appointments for the renewal or application of passports during COVID-19 pandemic.

Lany Viray, victim of passport scam, said she was convinced by a scammer to pay up to almost double the cost for a passport because she needed it for her work in abroad.

“Sinearch ko naman ‘yun nakita ko naman maraming positive na feedback at yung followers niya marami. Nag-english pa siya sabi niya sa DFA raw sila nagtatrabaho,” Viray shared.

(I searched the fixers page and saw a lot of positive feedback. It has a lot of followers. The fixer spoke in English and presented himself as a worker in the DFA.)

The fixer assured that Viray will get an appointment in just one to three days. She immediately paid P1,750 to the fixer. However, the fixer immediately disappeared.

“Tinext ko yung number na pinagpasahan ko, sabi ko hindi ka na naawa sa akin sinabi ko naman sayo na hiniram ko lang yung pambayad ko d'yan,” Viray said.

(I messaged the number which I paid for the online appointment, I said you don't feel pity, I told you that I just borrowed my payment for the appointment.) —Richa Noriega/NB, GMA News