Tourism officials and resort owners on Bantayan Island issued a stern warning Wednesday regarding a surge in sophisticated online booking scams targeting travelers ahead of the 2026 Holy Week.
Since September 2025, more than 200 victims have reported losses totaling an estimated P500,000, according to Nelson Yuvallos, president of the One Island Tourism Association.
Yuvallos cited that these scams are increasingly difficult to detect because fraudulent listings now use realistic market rates rather than suspicious, low prices and stressed that the warning is intended to raise awareness among the public rather than damage the tourism image of Bantayan Island.
Santa Fe Municipal Councilor Jaypee Lao said a large syndicate may be behind the operation, creating counterfeit Facebook pages that mirror legitimate resorts. In one instance, a fake page for Anika Island Resort gained 50,000 likes while the resort’s official page was temporarily offline.
Travelers who book through these pages often arrive at the island to find no valid reservation.
Scammers typically use dummy bank accounts or claim bank maintenance issues to pressure tourists into sending payments via personal e-wallet accounts. With 10,000 visitors expected for Holy Week, industry leaders fear the trend could discourage travel.