THE Bureau of Immigration (BI) has warned the public against individuals offering fake entry permits to foreigners on Facebook.
BI Commissioner Jaime Morente said the alert was issued after the agency received a complaint against a netizen who offered entry permits to the country to several foreign nationals.
One of the victims was later asked by the netizen to contact a person who introduced himself as an immigration officer.
The fake immigration officer supposedly ensures the smooth entry of foreigners in exchange for grease money.
The BI records, however, showed that the supposed immigration officer is not an employee of the agency.
Morente expressed his dismay towards the modus.
“There is no such service. We believe that these scammers prey on the people they see on Facebook,” Morente said.
“It is disconcerting to know that there are still those who can take advantage of the vulnerable even during a pandemic,” he added.
At present, only Filipinos, foreign spouses and children of Filipinos, foreign parents of Filipino minors, and foreigners holding immigrant and non-immigrant visas are allowed entry into the Philippines.
The entry of tourists to the country remains restricted.
Entry exemption documents are issued by foreign posts abroad to foreigners who wish to enter the country with tourist visas.