BI warns public vs love scams using its name, authority

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) on Tuesday warned the public against falling for online love scams that fraudulently use the name and authority of the BI to dupe victims into parting with their money.

The BI issued the statement after receiving a walk-in inquiry from a woman who sought to verify an email allegedly sent by an immigration official regarding the delivery of a parcel from abroad.

The email said the parcel was supposedly sent by her foreign boyfriend but was “intercepted” by the “Bureau of Immigration under the Ministry of Interior,” which required that fees be paid for its release.

The BI said it endorsed the reported incident to the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Cybercrime Division for further investigation. It is also coordinating with partner agencies to address similar scams.

The BI stressed that the email was fraudulent and part of a romance or love scam, adding that the BI does not operate under a “Ministry of Interior.”

It added that it does not intercept parcels, facilitate deliveries, or collect fees for the release of packages.

It said such scammers deliberately misuse the BI’s name and “invent official-sounding processes to make their stories appear legitimate.”

“The public is reminded that the bureau’s mandate is limited to immigration control and border management, and not the handling or clearance of parcels,” the agency added.

The BI advised the public to be cautious when dealing with online acquaintances, especially those who later claim to have sent packages or request money for supposed government fees.

It also reminded the public to verify suspicious emails or messages with the concerned government agency and to refrain from sending money or personal information to strangers. — JMA, GMA Integrated News