Passport applicants potential victims to online scammers for lack of awareness
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Hsu/ Thant Zin (NP News) - Aug 28
The growing number of passport applicants who are not well-informed about the process has created a breeding ground for online fraudsters, according to an insider at the Myanmar Passport Office who spoke to The NP News.
The Myanmar Passport Department currently processes passport applications using an online booking system with QR code verification in key cities, including Yangon, Mandalay, Bago, Pathein, Naypyidaw, and 11 other townships. Yangon Region is reported to be the region with the highest demand for passports.
However, with the increasing demand for passports, particularly among those seeking employment abroad, many people are falling victim to online scams due to their unfamiliarity with the online booking system and impatience. Online fraudsters have increasingly targeted such individuals, according to data compiled by The NSS.
"As passport applications become more challenging, scammers have seized the opportunity to exploit the situation. They've created a surge of online passport groups on platforms like Facebook and TikTok, often using stolen identities of former government officials to lure victims. The only authentic online resource is the official page with the QR code," the official warned.
The Statesman has observed that these scammers often impersonate employees of the Myanmar Passport Issuance Office or claim to have connections with them. While those familiar with the system can easily distinguish between real and fake services, many people with limited internet knowledge are more likely to believe the scammers.
The source estimated that, on average, at least three people fall victim to such scams daily, often losing substantial sums of money.
In one instance, a mother of three, a refugee from Mogok, reported being cheated after attempting to expedite her passport application through an online service she discovered on Facebook.
"I found a Facebook page while searching online for passport services and decided to use them. They asked me to transfer 1.5 million Kyats as a service fee. After that, they kept asking me to transfer more money, like 1.5 million Kyats twice, 2 million Kyats twice, then 3.5 million Kyats twice, and 4 million Kyats twice. They also asked me to pay an additional 3 million Kyats twice for the 'official stamp.' In total, I ended up losing about 30 million Kyats," she said.
Following multiple money transfers, she was told to meet at a park in Yankin Township to get her smart card. After arriving and waiting for a significant amount of time, she was asked to pay more money.
"I called them to ask when they would come and pick us up, but they just kept telling me to wait. Finally, I couldn't take it anymore and told them, 'If you dare, come here now. I have a child with me.' I went to the police station and reported it, and that's when I realized I had been scammed. We're a poor family, and my children hadn't eaten breakfast that day. We waited from 8 AM until past 3 PM, only to discover we had been cheated," she said, her voice breaking.
She was the first to be targeted by the scammer. Thankfully, the other three refugees from Mogok.