The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has warned the public about online love scams that are using the agency’s name to deceive victims and extort money.
In a statement, the BI said it received an inquiry from a woman who wanted to verify an email allegedly sent by an immigration official.
The email claimed to be about the delivery of a parcel from abroad.
According to the message, the parcel was supposedly sent by her foreign boyfriend but was intercepted by the Bureau of Immigration under the Ministry of Interior.
The email further stated that a payment was required for the parcel’s release.
The BI said it has endorsed the incident to the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Cybercrime Division for investigation.
The agency is also coordinating with other offices regarding similar scams.
Because of this, the BI clarified that its mandate is limited to immigration control and border management, and does not include the clearance or release of parcels.
The public was also advised to remain vigilant and to immediately coordinate with government agencies if they encounter similar incidents.
