MANILA – Bureau of Immigration (BI) officers at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 in Pasay City intercepted a scam victim who was duped into paying PHP120,000 for fake assistance to illegally work abroad.
The victim, identified only as alias “Amy,” 27, was apprehended on January 2 after attempting to bypass immigration inspection under the guise of a tourist bound for Bangkok, Thailand, according to BI Immigration Protection and Border Enforcement Section chief Mary Jane Hizon.
Amy was stopped by immigration officers after trying to slip past departure counters.
Upon inspection, she could not present her passport and boarding pass, claiming that these were held by an unidentified man she met at a restaurant near the terminal.
The victim presented a photo of her passport and boarding pass that was found to have a counterfeit immigration stamp.
Amy admitted she was lured by a Facebook post advertising immigration escort services and paid PHP120,000 through multiple online bank transfers.
She handed over her travel documents to the man and was instructed to wait for an alleged escort.
Shortly before her supposed boarding time, she was told to rush to the boarding gates. It was then that she was intercepted by BI officers and discovered that the man she was communicating with had blocked her messages.
Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado said Amy may have been transacting with a mail-order bride syndicate.
“Her admission that she was meeting a man she didn’t know in Bangkok raises serious red flags,” Viado said in a news release Sunday.
“This case highlights the dangers of illegal schemes that prey on vulnerable individuals seeking better opportunities. We urge everyone to exercise caution and always follow proper immigration procedures to avoid falling victim to these predators.”
The victim was endorsed to the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking for assistance. (PR)