The Bureau of Immigration (BI) on Tuesday warned the public against online romance scams that falsely use the agency’s name to extort money from unsuspecting victims.
The warning was issued after a woman went to the BI to verify an email she received regarding a parcel allegedly sent by her foreign partner. The email claimed that the package had been intercepted by the BI “under the Ministry of Interior” and required payment for its release.
The BI said the email was fraudulent and part of a love scam. It clarified that the agency’s mandate is limited to immigration control and border management and does not intercept parcels, process deliveries, collect fees for packages, or operate under any ministry.
The bureau added that scammers often misuse the names of government agencies and invent “official-sounding processes” to make their claims appear legitimate.
The BI advised the public to remain cautious when dealing with online contacts who claim to have sent packages or ask for money to cover supposed government charges.
The incident has been referred to the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center and the National Bureau of Investigation Cybercrime Division for further investigation.