BI warns public vs. fake eTravel websites with fees

There have been reports of passengers duped by fake eTravel websites that allegedly charged between PHP3,000 and PHP5,000. (PNA file photo by Cristina Arayata)

MANILA – The Bureau of Immigration (BI) on Saturday cautioned the public against scammers operating fake websites that charge fees for registration in eTravel, the electronic travel declaration system.

BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco reiterated in a news release that registration in the eTravel platform is free of charge.

He urged travelers to register only through the government’s official website https://etravel.gov.ph.

“We advise the traveling public to be cautious and register exclusively on the official government website, or through the eGovPH application. The eTravel registration process is absolutely free of charge,” Tansingco said in a statement.

There have been reports of passengers duped by fake eTravel websites that allegedly charged between PHP3,000 and PHP5,000.

The BI chief encouraged travelers who encountered fraudulent websites or individuals demanding online payments to report them immediately to the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center via hotline 1326.