The Bureau of Customs warns Filipino and foreign netizens to be wary of unscrupulous strangers online who are luring their victims with fake love and fake promises.
“If things are too good to be true, get out, that’s a trap,” said Customs Commissioner Isidro Lapena on Thursday after receiving reports of increasing incidents of online scam.
The Customs chief said the agency has recently received a complaint from a scammed resident of Pangasinan by an internet sweetheart who befriended and promised her of a package containing signature bags and gadgets.
The victim was duped to pay P30,000 to a certain Jenalyn Miranda for the release of the package said to be held by customs, however, after paying Miranda via money transfer, the suspects asked for an additional of P80,000 again for the release of the package.
From January to September 2017, the BOC’s helpdesk BOC-CARES received a total of 1263 reports and inquiries on various online scams. From this, there were 412 reports made via phone calls; 159 via emails; while 692 reported similar incidents via social media.
The numbers, however, reflect both verified incidents of scam and those that were merely reported but remained unverified because the caller or the email sender did not provide further details.
Records show that some of the names often used by the scammers are Danica Mae Chavez, James Henry, John Deck, George, Ben Anthony, Jojit Padilla, Luzviminda, Michael Wilson, Lea Gomez, Edward, Jenalyn, Karren, and Rowena.
Also, the common names used as couriers are SpeedEx Cargo, Speed Cargo, Global Express Cargo, Skyline Delivery Express, Express Cargo, Blue Express, Airtrack Cargo, United Global, Alpha Blink, Sky Express, Quick Cargo, Oceanic Delivery, ABC Cargo, Unifed, Link Up Freight, ECC Cargo, ACC Cargo, and Union Cargo.
Department of Trade and Industry-accredited de-consolidators list show no record of the couriers commonly used by the scammers.
Modus Operandi
According to the Enforcement and Security Service, online scams mostly make use of online dating sites, social media sites like Facebook and Twitter, or through phone calls, text messages, and emails.
The scammer often preys their victims by befriending them online and promising them to send a package containing gifts along with huge sum of money. Bogus receipts and tracking numbers of packages are also sent to the unsuspecting victims.
Others are victimized via text messages or phone calls claiming they have a package held by customs and the victim has to send money to get the package.
“They would usually use the name of the bureau and pose as BOC employees who are asking money to shoulder the “duties and taxes” in exchange for the release of the package”, Lapena said.
In the case of the victim from Pangasinan, a certain Karen Sanchez introduced herself as a customs employee.
Others are victimized via text messages or phone calls claiming they have a package held by Customs, often citing BOC in Cebu, and the victim has to send money to get the package. The victims are often asked to deposit money through money transfer service or bank accounts in Cebuana, Western Union, or BDO.
The commissioner pointed out that BOC collects customs duties and taxes through accredited agent banks (AAB) and not through personal bank accounts or other money transfer services.
The public is advised to be careful in dealing with “who they interact online and who they transact with”.
“If in case a stranger texted or chatted you of an unclaimed package held by BOC, or there is money in the package, you can double check the existence of the package by reaching the BOC Helpdesk at 705-6000 or by sending us a message at our Facebook page Bureau of Customs PH,” Commissioner Lapena said.
Victims of online scams are also advised to report the incidents to the cybercrime divisions of the Philippine National Police or National Bureau of Investigation. (BOC)
