MANILA, Philippines — Bureau of Immigration (BI) officers at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 intercepted a 27-year-old woman who fell victim to a scam, paying P120,000 for fake assistance to illegally work abroad.

Mary Jane Hizon, chief of the BI’s Immigration Protection and Border Enforcement Section (I-PROBES), identified the victim only as alias Amy. She was apprehended on January 2 while attempting to evade immigration inspection under the guise of being a tourist bound for Bangkok.

Authorities stopped the victim after she tried to bypass the departure counters. Upon investigation, alias Amy was unable to present her passport and boarding pass, claiming these were held by an unidentified man she had met at a restaurant near the terminal.

The victim presented only a photo of her travel documents, which were later found to bear a counterfeit immigration stamp.

According to her statement, alias Amy responded to a Facebook advertisement offering “immigration escort services.” 

She transferred P120,000 in multiple online payments and handed her travel documents to a man who promised her seamless travel arrangements. 

Shortly before her flight’s boarding time, she was instructed to head to the boarding gates, where she was intercepted by immigration personnel.

The man, who had been her sole point of contact, subsequently blocked all communication with her.

BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado revealed that authorities suspect alias Amy was being targeted by a mail-order bride syndicate.

“Her admission that she was meeting a man she didn’t know in Bangkok raises serious red flags,” Viado said. 

“This case underscores the dangers of illegal schemes preying on individuals seeking better opportunities. We urge the public to follow proper immigration procedures to avoid falling victim to these predators,” Viado said.

The victim has been referred to the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) for assistance and further investigation.