MANILA — Flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) is warning the public against an online ticket scam, wherein victims are eventually offered fake IDs to use at the airport check-in counters.
PAL spokesperson Cielo Villaluna said there has been a trend now that people are invited to purchase “cheap” tickets via social media sites.
The scammers, she said, would buy airline tickets in bulk and then sold these at lower rates.
“Tickets are under the name of fictitious people. So these buyers are offered a fake ID to present at the airport,” Villaluna told the Philippine News Agency (PNA).
The airline said its staff have been trained to determine fake IDs.
Bureau of Immigration Port Operations Division chief Red Marinas earlier told the PNA that Immigration officers use several means to identify counterfeit documents and IDs.
Based on PAL’s records, there are already 68 passengers apprehended for using counterfeit IDs as of Oct. 5. Most of these passengers were apprehended in Cotabato, Clark, Cagayan De Oro, Zamboanga, and Bacolod.
Under Article 178 (Using Fictitious Name and Concealing True Name) and Article 172 (Falsification of Public Documents), a person may be charged with one month or two to six years imprisonment, respectively.
PAL reminds passengers to avoid this online ticket scam, so they will not miss their flights and avoid facing legal problems. (Ma. Cristina Arayata/PNA)
