The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has warned the public about fake websites that are claiming to be BI's eTravel site.

"We urge the public to be vigilant and exercise caution online. There are numerous scams on the internet, and the false use of e-travel credentials to steal data and trick people into sending payments pops up every now and then," BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco said.

Tansingso expressed his distress as more scam websites could appear during the upcoming long weekend and holiday season.

He clarified that e-travel websites are entirely free, as the agency has started receiving reports regarding victims of scam sites requesting payments for utilizing e-travel.

Due to this, the BI urged all travelers to utilize the legitimate eTravel website for the smooth processing of their immigration requirements.

Passengers can access eTravel through the etravel.gov.ph.

They also reminded traveler to complete the online form at least 72 hours prior to their scheduled arrival or departure.

ETravel is a joint project of the agency with the Department of Tourism (DOT), the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), the Bureau of Quarantine (BOQ), the Bureau of Customs (BOC), the Department of Health (DOH), the Department of Transportation (DOTr), the Department of Justice (DOJ), and the National Privacy Commission (NPC).

This serves as the single data collection platform for arriving and departing passengers and establishes integrated border control, health surveillance, and economic data analysis.

Meanwhile, the public is encouraged to report any suspicious or fraudulent websites to the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC).