Flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) has issued a warning to the public about a syndicate involved in a cargo scam.
“Please watch out for scams related to supposed domestic cargo shipments and making unauthorized use of the name of Philippine Airlines,” the PAL management stated in its advisory.
“Scammers have sent recent messages via Facebook/Messenger to lure people into making payments for shipments that had supposedly been loaded on a PAL flight; the messages may even present fake PAL cargo airway bills as “proof” of such shipments.”
These are bogus, the PAL said. “No such cargo shipments exist, and any related online payments will surely go to fraudsters. Please deal only with our legitimate cargo agents and shippers for any air cargo transactions,” it added.
The company said all PAL announcements or statements on cargo shipments are issued through Cargo Sales Bulletins emailed to our accredited / nonaccredited agents and shippers, and Official emails from our Account Executives.
The Port of Manila had also warned the public about a new “love scam” at Ninoy Aquino International Airport.
The scammers pretended to be foreigners who were being detained upon arrival for bringing a large amount of money.
They befriend and court victims online, send gifts, and arrange for them to fly to the Philippines, where they will eventually get in trouble with the Bureau of Customs.
Upon arrival, the victim receives a call from a Customs employee demanding money from the “foreigner.”
The Port of NAIA stated that this is a new modus of love scam.
The scammers preyed on trusting social media users by using images of high-ranking customs officials.
Bureau officials said the agency does not collect fees or charges through Gcash or money remittance services, but payments are made through authorized agent banks or Customs cashiers. Joel E. Zurbano