27/02/2023
๐๐ข๐ ๐ช๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ป๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฃ๐๐ฏ๐น๐ถ๐ฐ ๐๐ด๐ฎ๐ถ๐ป๐๐ ๐ฆ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐บ ๐ผ๐ป "๐๐ป๐ฐ๐น๐ฎ๐ถ๐บ๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ฝ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ธ๐ฎ๐ด๐ฒ"
The Bureau of Customs (BOC) is warning the public against an emerging scam involving unscrupulous individuals luring victims with a supposed unclaimed package at Customs.
The Bureau has been receiving reports lately on scam incidents through online, email, SMS and calls. Scammers allegedly use dummies or fake accounts in social media, emails, text messages or phone calls to lure victims. Some would even use the name of BOC and pose as employees.
Allegedly, victims are duped to pay duties and taxes for the release of the package through money remittance or personal bank accounts. The BOC reiterates that it solely assess duties and taxes on parcels and such may be paid on a cash basis through the courier/freight forwarder upon delivery at doorstep or pick up the parcel at the nearest local branch. Further, said duties and taxes can only be collected through accredited agent banks (AAB) and not through personal bank accounts or other money transfer services.
Bogus receipts, tracking numbers of packages and other documents are also sent to the victims to make the transaction look legitimate. These documents can be validated with the BOC or the nominated courier.
The scams can also be sophisticated at times, involving fake tracking website of the said courier/freight forwarder where victims would be asked to visit and see the status of the supposed parcel. This can be verified with the Department of Trade and Industry through their website (https://dti.gov.ph/consumers/accredited-seafreight-forwarders) to see if the said courier is a DTI-accredited deconsolidator.
As a precautionary measure, the scams can easily be spotted if the scammer fails to provide the address of their office and insists on paying through online banks and money remittance.
The public is advised to be careful in dealing with suspicious notifications and individuals asking for money. BOC stakeholders receiving similar emails, chats, texts and calls are advised to immediately inform the Customs helpdesk, BOC-CARES through email at [email protected] or send us a message at our page, Bureau of Customs PH.
Victims of online scams are also advised to report the incidents to the cybercrime offices of the Philippine National Police or National Bureau of Investigation.
http://customs.gov.ph/boc-warns-the-public-against-scam-on-unclaimed-package/
