As millions of Filipinos head to airports this Holy Week, scammers have found a way to cash in on the rush — setting up fake websites that charge unsuspecting travelers fees for a government service that costs nothing.
The Bureau of Immigration (BI) raised the alarm Wednesday, April 1, as it braced for an estimated 45,000 departing international passengers daily at the country’s major airports — one of the heaviest travel surges of the year.
Immigration Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado said it was “all hands on deck” for immigration officers, with additional frontline personnel deployed and support units mobilized to manage the crush.
At the center of the scam are fraudulent websites mimicking the government’s eTravel platform, the electronic travel declaration system required for international departures.
The fake sites lure travelers into paying registration fees — a charge that does not exist.
“The eTravel registration process is absolutely free,” Viado said flatly, urging the public to register only through the official government website at etravel.gov.ph.
With the holiday exodus in full swing, consumer advocates warn the scheme is tailor-made to exploit time-pressured travelers who may not think twice before paying a small fee to avoid airport hassle.
The fake sites often look convincing enough to fool even seasoned travelers.
“These are clear cases of fraud,” Viado said. “The public should not fall victim to these schemes, especially during the holiday rush.”
The BI urged anyone who encounters suspicious websites or online entities demanding payment for eTravel registration to report them immediately to the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) through its official website.
Travelers may also complete their eTravel registration through the government’s eGovPH super app as an alternative to the web portal.
On the ground, immigration officials are asking passengers to arrive at least three hours before their scheduled flight to avoid missing departures amid expected congestion.
“We expect some queues at the airports because of the sheer number of travelers, but we commit to full deployment for a manageable airport experience,” Viado said.
