Customs, NBI warn of tax scam

CEBU, Philippines - The Bureau of Customs (BOC) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) have warned the public against unscrupulous individuals who collect customs taxes and duties online for purported packages from overseas.

BOC- Cebu District Collector Ronnie Silvestre emphasized that BOC never collects payment through a courier.

“This is very alarming kasi marami na ang nabiktima not just in Cebu but also in Zamboanga and Tacloban. This could be a nationwide scam perpetuated by unscrupulous individuals,” Silvestre said.

Alarmed by this modus operandi, BOC coordinated with the NBI to investigate the matter as the issue has put the bureau in a bad light.

In a letter to NBI Regional Director Edward Villarta, BOC Deputy Collector for Operations Francis Agustin Erpe said official communications from Atty. Paul Alcazaren, port collector of BOC, Sub-port of Mactan reported that a large scale fraud is being perpetuated by syndicates to the extent of using the name of the agency to give the scam some color of regularity.

Capt. George Macarubbo, BOC, Sub-port of Mactan sector commander had reported to Alcazaren that foreigners are allegedly the ones behind the professionalized syndicated scam that victimizes Filipinos and make them appear as recipients of alleged imported articles, including consumable items and cash amounting to $2,000, all placed in one package.

Macarubbo said that for the past months, several people have brought to his office email documents to verify information that a package has been sent to them from abroad.

Macarubbo added that verification with the customs warehouses operating at BOC, Sub-port of Mactan, revealed that no package consigned to the victims have arrived at their warehouse.

Villarta said six people have been victimized by the scam, so far, and have sent money via a courier as customs taxes and duties for a package worth at least $2,000.

“This operandi has maligned, ruined and brought substantial prejudice and damage to BOC,” Macarubbo said adding the bureau is primarily made the reason why the package is held for released to mislead their victims. — (FREEMAN)