CLARK FREEPORT -- Bureau of Immigration (BI) Commissioner Jaime Morente issued a warning against fake immigration agents harassing foreign nationals in the country.

Morente said they received reports that individuals who introduce themselves as BI agents harass and extort aliens.

“A victim sent us a letter for verification of a notice he received via courier, inviting him to the BI office in connection to a purported investigation, lest be charged and deported,” said Morente.

The said letter was signed by a certain Special Agent Juanito Balmas, who, upon verification is not an employee of the BI.

“The victim was being asked to appear before the BI on a Saturday,” said Morente. “We have no office during Saturdays. We suspect that whoever was trying to harass him will meet him nearby, and possibly extort money from him.”

The BI chief said the agency previously revealed modi operandi involving fake employees.

Morente clarified that legal notices are sent to foreign nationals using the BI’s official letterhead, signed by legitimate employees of the agency.

He added that the contact information of all the BI offices nationwide may be found at the BI’s website at www.immigration.gov.ph for individuals who want to verify communication sent to them.