Koreans arrested for fake travel agency, streaming app scams in Pampanga

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has arrested four Korean citizens in two separate operations in Pampanga. 

According to John Consulta’s report in “24 Oras” on Wednesday, two Koreans were arrested for operating a fake travel agency while two others were allegedly masterminds of a streaming app scam. 

In one operation, personnel from BI’s Fugitive Search Unit busted a residence after the Department of Tourism received complaints from some foreigners and Filipinos who were scammed by the illegitimate travel agency. Authorities found at the scene the desktop computers being used for the sham travel agency, the report added. 

“Nagpapanggap nga sila na travel agency at nagtatawag sa kanilang mga biktima sa Korea upang alukin ng mga mababang flights at mababang rates sa mga hotels sa atin,” said BI Fugitive Search Unit chef Rendel Sy. 

(They were posing as a travel agency and were offering Koreans low rates for flights and hotels here in our country.) 

“May nakausap tayong isang hotel sa Cebu at sinasabing may lumapag sa kanilang more than 30 Korean nationals na akala nila may booking sila dito sa isang 5-star hotel. Ngunit nung chineck ng hotel ay wala pong naka-register na booking itong grupong ito,” he added.

(We talked to a hotel in Cebu and they told us that more than 30 Korean nationals went to them expecting that they already had a booking in this 5-star hotel. But when the hotel management checked, these foreigners did not make bookings.) 

In another operation, two other foreigners were arrested inside a villa for luring people to subscribe to an online streaming app. One of them is allegedly the leader of a scamming syndicate in South Korea, the report added. 

“Na kukumbinsihin nila itong magpadala ng pera or mag-subscribe kung saan ito ay walang totoong subscription sa sinasabing movie streaming application,” Sy added. 

(They will convince them to send money or subscribe to a non-existent movie streaming application.) 

GMA Integrated News is trying to reach out to the arrested foreigners who will face summary deportation. — Vince Angelo Ferreras/BM, GMA Integrated News