Public warned vs fake websites collecting eTravel fees

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has warned the public against scammers who operate fake websites to collect registration fees for the government's eTravel system.

In a statement on Wednesday, Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco reiterated that the eTravel registration is free of charge.

"We, therefore, advise the traveling public to register only in the government's official website at https://etravel.gov.ph," Tansingco said.

He likewise urged the public to report websites or entities that collect such payment to the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) through its website.

The BI chief issued the warning following reports of passengers at airports who claim they have already registered in the eTravel platform and “paid” the supposed fees that were charged to them.

Amounts allegedly collected from the passengers amount to between P3,000 to P5,000, when converted to peso as the fees charged by the scammers were usually in US dollars.

The eTravel was launched earlier this year and serves as the single data collection platform for arriving and departing passengers. It establishes an integrated border control, health surveillance, and economic data analysis.

The project abolished the paper-based arrival and departure cards, as well as the quarantine form. —KBK, GMA Integrated News