If you lost money to a supposed “investment” that promised guaranteed profits, fast withdrawals, crypto or forex gains, referral commissions, or unusually high returns, the first priorities are to stop sending money, preserve evidence, report the transaction trail quickly, and file the complaint with the right Philippine office. Investment scam complaints in the Philippines often involve several tracks at the same time: the SEC for illegal investment solicitation, the bank or e-wallet for fund tracing, the NBI or PNP for online/cyber elements, and the prosecutor’s office for criminal liability such as estafa or syndicated estafa.

What Counts as an Investment Scam in the Philippines?

An investment scam is not limited to a fake corporation or a person who disappears after taking money. Many scams look professional at first. They may have a registered business name, a website, a mobile app, a Facebook page, a Telegram group, “coaches,” “account managers,” payout screenshots, celebrity images, and early withdrawals to make the scheme look real.

Common examples include:

Crypto, forex, or stock trading “bots” promising fixed daily or monthly returns
“Double your money” or “guaranteed income” plans
Online tasking or recharge schemes where you must deposit more to unlock commissions
Investment packages in agriculture, piggery, poultry, lending, mining, casinos, or real estate
“Co-ownership” plans marketed to the public with promised passive income
Ponzi-style referral systems where payouts depend on recruiting new members
Fake investment apps that later require taxes, AML clearance fees, withdrawal fees, or account-unfreezing fees
People using another company’s SEC registration certificate to convince victims that the investment offer is legal

A business failure is different from fraud. A legitimate business can lose money. But warning signs of an investment scam include false promises, concealment, unauthorized public solicitation, fake trading activity, fake licenses, refusal to return funds, pressure to recruit, and payouts that appear to come from new investors rather than real business income.

A very important point: SEC registration as a corporation is not the same as authority to solicit investments from the public. A company may be registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission as a corporation, but that does not automatically allow it to sell investment contracts, securities, or profit-sharing packages.

Legal Basis: What Philippine Laws Apply to Investment Scams?

Several Philippine laws may apply depending on how the scheme was carried out.

Securities Regulation Code: RA 8799

Under the Securities Regulation Code, Republic Act No. 8799, securities include shares, investment contracts, profit-sharing interests, and other instruments sold to the public as investments.

Section 8.1 of RA 8799 generally prohibits the sale or offer of securities in the Philippines unless a registration statement has been filed with and approved by the SEC. Section 28 also requires brokers, dealers, salesmen, and associated persons to be properly registered.

This matters because many scams are framed as “packages,” “memberships,” “co-ownership,” “trading accounts,” or “managed funds” to avoid using the word “security.” The label is not controlling. If people put in money expecting profits mainly from the efforts of the promoter, trader, platform, or management team, the arrangement may still be treated as an investment contract.

In Power Homes Unlimited Corporation v. SEC, the Supreme Court applied the investment contract test: there is an investment contract when there is an investment of money in a common enterprise, with an expectation of profits, primarily from the efforts of others. The Court confirmed that investment contracts are securities and must be registered before being offered to the public.

Financial Products and Services Consumer Protection Act: RA 11765

The Financial Products and Services Consumer Protection Act, Republic Act No. 11765, expressly covers investment fraud.

Under RA 11765, investment fraud includes deceptive solicitation of investments from the public, including Ponzi schemes and the offering or selling of investment schemes without the required SEC license or permit, unless exempt.

The law gives financial regulators such as the SEC, BSP, Insurance Commission, and Cooperative Development Authority consumer protection and enforcement powers within their areas. For investment fraud, the SEC may impose administrative sanctions, including significant fines, and may take enforcement action against violators.

Revised Penal Code: Estafa

Investment scams may also amount to estafa, or swindling, under Article 315 of the Revised Penal Code.

Estafa commonly applies when a person:

Makes false promises or fraudulent representations before or during the investment;
Pretends to have authority, qualifications, business operations, property, or investment activity that does not actually exist;
Receives money with an obligation to return, deliver, or apply it for a specific purpose, but misappropriates or converts it; or
Uses deceit that causes the victim to part with money or property.

In practical terms, prosecutors usually look for proof of deceit, reliance, payment, and damage. Screenshots alone may not be enough if they do not show who made the promise, what was promised, when the money was paid, where it was sent, and how the victim was damaged.

Syndicated Estafa: PD 1689

A large public investment scam may also involve syndicated estafa under Presidential Decree No. 1689 when the legal elements are present. This usually becomes relevant when five or more persons formed or managed a scheme that solicited funds from the public and misappropriated those funds.

In People v. Aquino, involving the Everflow investment scheme, the Supreme Court discussed investment scam facts involving public solicitation, promised returns, lack of authority to solicit investments, dishonored checks, and a Ponzi-style structure. The Court also described a Ponzi scheme as one where supposed returns to earlier investors are paid from money coming from newer investors.

Cybercrime Prevention Act: RA 10175

If the scam used online platforms, fake websites, social media pages, messaging apps, phishing links, identity theft, or digital wallets, the Cybercrime Prevention Act, Republic Act No. 10175, may also be relevant.

This is why victims of online investment scams often report to the NBI Cybercrime Division or PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group, especially when the suspect’s real identity is unknown or the evidence is mostly digital.

Anti-Financial Account Scamming Act: RA 12010

If the money moved through a bank account, e-wallet, or other financial account, the Anti-Financial Account Scamming Act, Republic Act No. 12010, may be relevant.

RA 12010 addresses financial account scams, including the use of financial accounts in fraudulent schemes. Under BSP implementing rules, disputed electronic transfers may be subject to temporary holding procedures in covered situations, but this is time-sensitive and depends on whether the funds are still traceable within the financial system. The BSP AFASA booklet and implementing rules provide more detail on how banks and financial institutions handle disputed transactions.

Civil Code Remedies

Apart from criminal and regulatory complaints, a victim may have civil remedies under the Civil Code of the Philippines, especially under provisions on human relations, damages, and unjust enrichment.

For example:

Article 19 requires every person to act with justice, give everyone his due, and observe honesty and good faith.
Article 20 allows damages when a person willfully or negligently causes damage contrary to law.
Article 21 covers willful acts contrary to morals, good customs, or public policy.
Article 22 addresses unjust enrichment.

Civil recovery is separate from proving a criminal offense. It may help in some cases, but collection remains a practical problem if the scammer has hidden, transferred, or spent the money.

Where to File a Complaint Against an Investment Scam

The correct office depends on what happened. Many serious investment scam cases require more than one report.

Office or agency	When to file there	What it can usually do
SEC Enforcement and Investor Protection Department	The scheme involves public investment solicitation, investment contracts, unregistered securities, Ponzi-style returns, or misuse of SEC registration	Investigate, issue advisories or cease-and-desist orders, impose administrative sanctions, coordinate or refer for prosecution
Bank, e-wallet, or financial institution	Money was sent through a bank transfer, GCash/Maya/e-wallet, QR code, online banking, or other financial account	Record the fraud report, trace transactions, coordinate with receiving institutions, and possibly hold disputed funds if rules and timing allow
BSP Consumer Assistance Mechanism	The complaint is against a BSP-supervised financial institution, such as a bank or e-money issuer, especially for failure to properly act on a fraud report	Handle consumer complaints involving BSP-supervised institutions through the BSP consumer assistance channels
NBI Cybercrime Division	The scam used websites, apps, Facebook, Telegram, WhatsApp, Viber, phishing, fake identities, crypto wallets, or unknown online suspects	Conduct cybercrime investigation, take sworn statements, assist in digital evidence handling, and build a case
PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group or local police	The scam is online, urgent, local, or involves identifiable suspects	Receive reports, assist with investigation, and coordinate with prosecutors or cybercrime units
City or Provincial Prosecutor’s Office	You have enough evidence and identifiable respondents for a criminal complaint	Conduct preliminary investigation and determine whether a criminal case should be filed in court
Civil court or appropriate adjudicatory body	You are pursuing recovery of money, damages, or civil liability	Issue a judgment or award if the claim is proven, subject to collection and enforcement

A barangay blotter may help document a local incident, especially if the recruiter lives nearby, but it is usually not a substitute for filing with the SEC, NBI, PNP, bank/e-wallet, or prosecutor. Many investment scam cases involve serious offenses, corporations, online platforms, multiple victims, or parties in different cities, which often makes barangay conciliation inadequate or inapplicable.

Step-by-Step Guide to Filing an Investment Scam Complaint

1. Stop Sending Money Immediately

Scammers often ask for more payments after the victim tries to withdraw:

“Tax clearance”
“Anti-money laundering certificate”
“Account verification fee”
“Wallet unlock fee”
“VIP upgrade”
“Penalty”
“Processing fee”
“Final deposit before release”

Do not send more money just to recover previous deposits. These follow-up charges are often part of the same scam.

Also avoid threatening the scammer publicly before preserving evidence. Public posts may warn the operators, cause them to delete accounts, or give them time to move funds.

2. Preserve Evidence Before Accounts Disappear

Investment scam evidence disappears quickly. Facebook pages are renamed, Telegram groups are deleted, websites go offline, and fake apps stop working.

Save the evidence in an organized way:

Full name, alias, phone number, email, username, and profile links of the recruiter or account manager
Company name, business name, SEC registration number, DTI number, website, app name, and social media pages
Screenshots of investment promises, returns, packages, referral commissions, and withdrawal terms
Screenshots showing the person who convinced you to invest
Chat history from Messenger, Telegram, Viber, WhatsApp, SMS, or email
Bank deposit slips, e-wallet receipts, QR payments, remittance receipts, and crypto transaction hashes
Account numbers, wallet addresses, transaction reference numbers, dates, and exact amounts
Proof of early payouts, if any
Withdrawal requests and excuses for non-release of funds
Demand messages and responses
Names of other victims or witnesses
Videos, webinars, Zoom invites, presentation slides, compensation plans, and group announcements
SEC advisories, if any, about the company or group

Do not rely only on cropped screenshots. Whenever possible, save full-page screenshots showing the URL, date, sender, recipient, and surrounding conversation. Keep the original device and account access because digital evidence may later need authentication.

3. Write a Clear Chronology

Before filing, prepare a simple timeline. This helps the SEC, police, NBI, bank, or prosecutor understand the case quickly.

A useful chronology includes:

Date	What happened	Evidence
January 10, 2026	Recruiter sent investment offer promising 10% monthly return	Messenger screenshots
January 12, 2026	Victim sent ₱50,000 to named GCash account	GCash receipt
February 12, 2026	Platform showed supposed profit of ₱5,000	App screenshot
March 1, 2026	Withdrawal was denied unless victim paid “tax”	Telegram screenshot
March 3, 2026	Victim demanded refund; recruiter stopped replying	Demand message screenshot

This chronology should match your receipts. Inconsistencies in dates, amounts, and account names can slow down investigation.

4. Report the Transfer to Your Bank or E-Wallet Immediately

If you sent money through a bank, e-wallet, remittance center, or payment platform, report the transaction to your financial institution as soon as possible.

Ask for:

A fraud report or complaint reference number
Transaction tracing or recall, if available
Coordination with the receiving bank or e-wallet
Preservation of account and transaction records
Temporary holding of disputed funds, if applicable under law and BSP rules
Written response or certification of your report

Speed matters. If the recipient account has already been emptied, recovery becomes much harder.

If the issue involves a bank, e-money issuer, or other BSP-supervised financial institution that does not properly respond to your complaint, you may elevate the matter through the BSP Consumer Assistance Mechanism. BSP is not the criminal prosecutor of the scammer, but it can act on consumer complaints involving supervised financial institutions.

5. File a Complaint with the SEC

For illegal investment solicitation, file with the SEC through the SEC iMessage Portal. The SEC iMessage system is the SEC’s official web-based platform for public inquiries, complaints, incidents, and requests. For investment scams, use the service under the Enforcement and Investor Protection Department for eComplaints on investment scams.

Include:

Your full name and contact details
Name of the company, group, platform, or person soliciting investments
Website, social media pages, app name, email addresses, and phone numbers
Description of the investment offer
Amount invested and dates of payment
Proof of payment
Screenshots of the promised returns
Names of recruiters, uplines, agents, or officers
Whether the scheme is still operating
Whether there are other victims
Copies of SEC certificates or claimed licenses shown to you
Any SEC advisory you found about the entity

The SEC complaint is especially important when the scheme is still soliciting the public. SEC action may help stop further victimization, even if the recovery of your own money requires separate criminal, civil, or financial institution action.

6. File with the NBI or PNP if the Scam Was Online

If the scam used online accounts, fake apps, websites, social media, hacked accounts, or crypto wallets, report to cybercrime authorities.

The NBI Cybercrime Division Citizen’s Charter covers investigative assistance for victims of computer crimes. The NBI intake process may include a complaint sheet, preliminary interview, sworn statements, and possible examination of digital devices.

You may also report online scams to the PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group or the nearest police station, especially for urgent local assistance or if the suspect is identifiable.

Bring printed and digital copies of evidence. For digital evidence, keep the original phone, laptop, app access, email account, and SIM card if possible.

7. Prepare a Complaint-Affidavit for the Prosecutor

If you want criminal charges such as estafa, syndicated estafa, or cybercrime-related offenses, prepare a complaint-affidavit. A complaint-affidavit is a sworn written statement explaining the facts, identifying the respondents, attaching evidence, and stating why a crime was committed.

A prosecutor’s office will usually require:

Investigation Data Form
Complaint-affidavit or sworn statement
Copies of valid IDs
Supporting affidavits of witnesses, if any
Proof of payment
Screenshots and chat records
Bank/e-wallet reports
SEC complaint or advisory, if available
Corporate records or business registration documents, if relevant
Printed copies for the prosecutor and each respondent

The proper prosecutor’s office is often where an essential part of the offense occurred, such as where the false representations were received and acted upon, where payment was made, where money was received, or where the respondent may be found. Venue can be fact-specific, especially in online scams.

The prosecutor will evaluate whether the complaint and evidence show enough basis to proceed. If the respondents are identifiable, they may be required to submit counter-affidavits. If the evidence is incomplete, the complaint may be dismissed, referred for further case build-up, or require additional documents.

8. Coordinate with Other Victims, But Keep Your Own Evidence

Group complaints can be powerful because they show public solicitation, repeated misrepresentations, common methods, and a larger scheme. This may help the SEC, NBI, PNP, and prosecutors understand the scale of the scam.

However, each victim should still prepare individual evidence:

Own affidavit
Own proof of payment
Own chats with the recruiter
Own computation of loss
Own withdrawal attempts or refund demands

Do not assume that another victim’s evidence automatically proves your own loss. In criminal and civil proceedings, your specific payment and reliance still matter.

Documents and Evidence Checklist

Document or evidence	Why it matters	Practical notes
Valid government ID or passport	Establishes identity of complainant	Foreigners may use passport and local contact details
Complaint-affidavit	Main sworn statement for prosecutor, NBI, or formal complaint	Must be truthful, specific, and usually notarized
Chronology of events	Helps investigators understand the scheme quickly	Include dates, amounts, people, accounts, and platforms
Proof of payment	Shows actual loss and transaction trail	Include bank slips, e-wallet receipts, remittance records, crypto hashes
Screenshots of investment offer	Shows promises, returns, packages, and solicitation	Capture full screen with sender, URL, date, and context
Chat logs and emails	Shows deceit, inducement, refusal to refund, or excuses	Export full conversations if possible
Company or platform details	Helps identify respondents and SEC issues	Include claimed SEC registration, business address, website, app, pages
Bank/e-wallet complaint reference	Shows timely reporting and fund-tracing effort	Ask for written acknowledgment or ticket number
SEC complaint ticket	Shows regulatory report	Attach to later filings when relevant
Witness affidavits	Helps prove public solicitation or recruiter activity	Each witness should state personal knowledge
Demand messages	Shows refusal, non-payment, or excuses	Demand is not always required for every estafa mode, but it is often useful
Foreign notarization, apostille, or consular notarization	Needed when documents are executed abroad	Requirements vary by receiving office and country

For documents executed abroad, the Philippines has been a party to the Apostille Convention since May 14, 2019, as explained in the DFA Apostille FAQs. Depending on the country and receiving office, a document signed abroad may need local notarization plus apostille, or notarization before a Philippine embassy or consulate. Philippine embassies also provide consular notarization services for documents such as affidavits and special powers of attorney, as shown in the Philippine Embassy consular notarization guidance.

Common Mistakes That Can Hurt an Investment Scam Complaint

Paying More Money to “Release” the Investment

A request for tax, AML clearance, wallet unlocking, or verification payment is a major red flag. Real taxes and government clearances are not normally paid through random personal accounts or crypto wallets controlled by the same platform.

Believing That SEC Registration Means the Investment Is Legal

A corporation can be SEC-registered but still have no authority to sell securities or solicit investments. Always separate primary registration from authority to offer investments to the public.

Submitting Vague Complaints

A complaint saying “I was scammed by an investment company” is usually too thin. Investigators need names, dates, amounts, account numbers, conversations, and proof of payment.

Deleting Chats or Losing Access to Accounts

Do not delete your Telegram, Facebook, Messenger, email, or app accounts connected to the scam. Even embarrassing or emotional messages may be useful evidence.

Waiting Too Long to Report the Payment Trail

If the funds moved through a bank or e-wallet, report immediately. The chance of tracing or holding funds is usually better when the report is made quickly.

Relying Only on Social Media Posts

Public warnings may help others, but they do not replace formal complaints. Agencies act on records, affidavits, documents, and evidence.

Filing Only One Type of Complaint

SEC action may stop an illegal solicitation scheme, but it may not automatically recover your money. A bank report may help trace funds, but it does not prosecute estafa. A criminal complaint may punish offenders, but recovery depends on assets, restitution, or civil liability. Serious cases often need coordinated filings.

Not Preparing Proper Documents When Abroad

OFWs and foreign victims often send unsigned statements, scanned letters, or informal authorizations. Philippine agencies and prosecutors may require sworn affidavits, notarized documents, apostilles, or a properly executed special power of attorney if a representative will file or follow up locally.

Timelines, Fees, and Practical Expectations

Investment scam cases can move slowly because they often involve many victims, online identities, bank secrecy issues, foreign platforms, crypto wallets, fake IDs, and multiple jurisdictions.

Step	Typical timing	Fees and costs	Practical expectation
Bank or e-wallet fraud report	Same day, ideally immediately after discovering the scam	Usually no filing fee; possible costs for records or certifications	Best chance for urgent tracing or temporary holding if funds have not moved
BSP consumer complaint	After reporting first to the bank or financial institution	No BSP filing fee for consumer assistance	Useful when a supervised financial institution fails to respond properly
SEC iMessage complaint	Online submission creates a ticket or record	Generally no separate complaint-filing fee; notarization/copying costs may apply	Helps trigger regulatory review, advisories, enforcement, or coordination
NBI Cybercrime Division intake	Initial intake may be done in person depending on office procedure	The NBI citizen charter lists no fee for cybercrime investigative assistance intake	Full investigation can take much longer than intake
Prosecutor complaint	Docketing and preliminary investigation timelines vary widely	No ordinary criminal filing fee, but notarization, printing, courier, and document costs apply	Resolutions may take months, especially with many respondents
Court proceedings	Months to years	Criminal cases do not require the victim to pay civil filing fees if civil action is properly included, but related costs may arise	Conviction, restitution, and actual recovery are different issues
Civil recovery case	Months to years	Filing fees depend on claim amount and relief sought	Useful if assets are identifiable, but collection is often the challenge

The biggest bottleneck is usually not filing the complaint itself. It is proving who controlled the scheme, tracing where the money went, preserving digital evidence, and finding assets that can still be recovered.

Special Notes for OFWs, Foreigners, and Victims Outside the Philippines

Foreigners and Filipinos abroad can file complaints if the scam has a Philippine connection, such as Philippine-based recruiters, Philippine bank or e-wallet accounts, Philippine companies, victims in the Philippines, or online acts affecting persons in the Philippines.

Practical points:

Use your passport or government ID.
Provide a reliable email address, mobile number, and address abroad.
If someone in the Philippines will file or follow up for you, prepare a special power of attorney.
If your affidavit is signed abroad, check whether the receiving office requires consular notarization, apostille, or other authentication.
If your evidence is in another language, prepare an English translation.
If crypto is involved, keep wallet addresses, transaction hashes, exchange records, screenshots, and dates.
If the platform is foreign but the recruiter, mule account, or victim is in the Philippines, Philippine authorities may still have a basis to investigate local participants.

Nationality does not prevent a person from being a complainant. The main issue is whether Philippine authorities can identify a Philippine connection, obtain evidence, and proceed against persons or accounts within reach.

How to Make Your Complaint Stronger

A strong complaint is specific, organized, and evidence-based. It does not need complicated legal language, but it must clearly explain what happened.

A useful complaint-affidavit should answer:

Who convinced you to invest?
What exactly did they promise?
When and where did they make the promise?
How much did you send?
To whose account, wallet, or name did you send the money?
Why did you believe the promise?
What happened when you tried to withdraw or recover your money?
What proof shows the deceit, payment, and loss?
Are there other victims?
Is the scheme still operating?

Avoid exaggeration. If you received some payouts, disclose them. Early payouts are common in Ponzi-style schemes and do not necessarily defeat your complaint, but hiding them can damage credibility.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I file a complaint if the company is SEC-registered?

Yes. SEC registration as a corporation does not automatically authorize a company to solicit investments. If the company sold investment contracts, securities, profit-sharing packages, or similar schemes to the public without proper authority, it may still violate the Securities Regulation Code and RA 11765.

Should I file with the SEC, NBI, PNP, or prosecutor first?

Start with the most urgent track. If money was sent through a bank or e-wallet, report to the financial institution immediately. File with the SEC if the case involves investment solicitation. Report to NBI or PNP if the scam used online platforms, fake identities, apps, or cyber methods. File with the prosecutor when you have enough evidence and identifiable respondents for a criminal complaint.

Will filing with the SEC get my money back?

Not automatically. The SEC can investigate illegal investment solicitation, issue advisories or cease-and-desist orders, impose sanctions, and coordinate enforcement action. Actual recovery depends on whether funds or assets can be traced, held, returned, or recovered through criminal, civil, regulatory, or financial institution processes.

Is a crypto, forex, or trading app scam covered by Philippine law?

Yes, if the facts show deceptive solicitation, investment contracts, unauthorized public offering, estafa, cyber fraud, or misuse of financial accounts. Calling the product “crypto,” “forex,” “AI trading,” or “arbitrage” does not automatically remove it from Philippine law.

What if the scammer asks me to pay tax or clearance before withdrawal?

Do not pay. Requests for “tax,” “AML clearance,” “wallet unlock,” “verification,” or “withdrawal processing” fees are common second-stage scam tactics. Save the messages and include them in your complaint.

Can victims file a group complaint?

Yes. Group complaints can help show public solicitation and a pattern of fraud. However, each victim should still prepare individual proof of payment, individual screenshots, and a personal affidavit explaining how they were deceived and how much they lost.

Do I need a notarized complaint-affidavit?

For a formal criminal complaint, a sworn and notarized complaint-affidavit is usually required. NBI or police officers may also take sworn statements. For SEC online reporting, you can begin by submitting available documents through the SEC iMessage system, but a sworn affidavit can strengthen the complaint. If you are abroad, check whether apostille or consular notarization is required.

How long does an investment scam complaint take?

It varies. Bank or e-wallet reporting should be done immediately. SEC, NBI, PNP, and prosecutor action may take weeks or months depending on complexity, evidence, number of victims, and whether suspects can be identified. Court cases can take years. Fast filing helps preserve evidence and transaction trails, but it does not guarantee quick recovery.

Can I still complain if I received early payouts?

Yes. Early payouts are common in Ponzi schemes because they encourage trust and recruitment. Disclose all payouts honestly and compute your net loss. The pattern of deposits, promised returns, referrals, and later withdrawal failure may still support a complaint.

What if I only know the GCash number, bank account, phone number, or Facebook profile?

Still report it. Those details may help trace the transaction or identify the account holder. Provide all available identifiers, including account names, numbers, transaction references, usernames, profile links, screenshots, and dates. Weak identity information can slow the case, but it is still useful.

Key Takeaways

Report the fund transfer to your bank or e-wallet immediately; timing can affect tracing or temporary holding.
File with the SEC when the scheme involves public investment solicitation, promised returns, investment contracts, or misuse of SEC registration.
File with NBI or PNP cybercrime units when the scam used social media, messaging apps, fake websites, trading apps, crypto wallets, or unknown online identities.
A criminal complaint for estafa, syndicated estafa, or cybercrime usually requires a detailed sworn complaint-affidavit and supporting evidence.
SEC registration as a corporation does not mean the company is authorized to solicit investments.
Preserve full screenshots, chat histories, payment records, wallet addresses, transaction IDs, and a clear chronology.
Do not pay more money for “tax,” “unlocking,” “AML clearance,” or “withdrawal” fees.
OFWs and foreigners can complain, but affidavits and special powers of attorney signed abroad may need apostille or consular notarization.
Recovery is hardest when funds have already moved, so act quickly and file through the proper channels.