BI: Scammers using BI chief’s name to dupe employees

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) on Wednesday warned the public against individuals using the name of BI commissioner Joel Anthony Viado in scam operations.

In a statement, the BI cited reports that the head of a provincial BI office received correspondence from a “high-ranking official” who told her to download a messaging platform.

Later, she received messages from an account claiming to be Viado.

The person posing as Viado asked the BI employee to transfer P50,000 to the digital bank account of a supposed foundation for a “pledge he had forgotten to send for an activity.”

The person promised to reimburse it after a supposed meeting with the justice secretary.

The sender posing as Viado continued to demand updates from the BI employee and threatened to personally go to the BI employee’s office should she fail to heed the request.

The BI employee later verified that Viado did not issue such an instruction and that it was an attempt to impersonate Viado to scam BI personnel.

The agency is investigating the case and is looking into filing criminal charges against the person behind the scam attempt.

“The Bureau of Immigration will never solicit or instruct any employee to transfer personal funds for donations, pledges, or any activity through private messaging applications. This is clearly a scam using my name,” Viado said.

“Let this serve as a warning. Always verify. Do not be pressured by urgency, rank, or name-dropping. When in doubt, confirm through official channels,” he added.

The BI reminded its employees to stay alert against any further attempts to use Viado’s name to scam or extort money.

The agency added that all communications from BI officials are coursed through proper channels. — JMA, GMA Integrated News