BI INTERCEPTS SCAM VICTIM DUPED BY FAKE AIRPORT ESCORT AT NAIA

BUREAU of Immigration (BI) officers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 intercepted a scam victim who was duped into paying P120,000 for fake assistance to illegally work abroad.

BI Immigration Protection and Border Enforcement Section (I-PROBES) chief Mary Jane Hizon reported that the victim, identified only as Amy, 27, was apprehended last January 2 after attempting to bypass immigration inspection under the guise of a tourist bound for Bangkok.

Alias Amy was stopped by alert immigration officers and supervisors 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 had met at a restaurant near the terminal.

The victim presented a photo of her passport and boarding pass that was found to be impressed with a counterfeit immigration stamp.

Alias Amy admitted she had discovered a Facebook post advertising immigration escort services and paid P120,000 in 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 personnel and discovered that the man she was communicating with had blocked her.

BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado disclosed that the Bureau suspects alias Amy was being lured by a mail-order bride syndicate.

“Her admission that she was meeting a man she didn’t know in Bangkok raises serious red flags,” said Viado.

“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,” he added.

The victim was endorsed to the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) for assistance.