1) What counts as a “travel agency scam” on social media?

A social-media travel scam typically involves a page, profile, or “agent” offering discounted flights, tour packages, hotel bookings, visas, or “seat sales,” then doing any of the following:

Taking payment then ghosting or blocking the buyer
Issuing fake vouchers/itineraries or fabricated booking references
Claiming “promo slots” that never existed and pushing urgency (“last 2 seats!”)
“Rebooking/upgrade fees” that keep increasing (a form of advance-fee fraud)
Using a legitimate agency’s name/logo but with different payment details (impersonation)
Delivering something materially different from what was sold (e.g., no hotel, no tours, wrong dates), then refusing refunds

Legally, the label “scam” matters less than the acts and the evidence showing deception, payment, and damage.

2) Key laws commonly used in Philippine complaints

A. Criminal law: Estafa (Swindling) – Revised Penal Code (RPC), Article 315

Most travel-agency scams fit estafa, especially when the seller:

used false pretenses or fraudulent acts (e.g., claiming a confirmed booking, accreditation, or promo allotment), and
the victim relied on those representations, and
the victim paid money, and
the victim suffered damage (loss of money; sometimes additional consequential losses)

Estafa is often the main “core” charge for payment-then-no-service schemes.

B. Cybercrime angle – Republic Act (RA) 10175 (Cybercrime Prevention Act)

When the fraud is committed through ICT (social media, messaging apps, online transfers), prosecutors may apply:

computer-related fraud concepts and/or
treat the online mode as relevant to warrants, preservation of data, and investigation

Even if the charge remains “estafa,” the online trail is central evidence.

C. E-Commerce Act – RA 8792

Recognizes the legal effect of electronic data messages and electronic documents. This supports using:

screenshots, chat logs, emails, e-wallet records, electronic receipts as evidence, when properly presented and authenticated.

D. Consumer protection (often relevant, but depends on facts)

Consumer Act of the Philippines – RA 7394 may apply to deceptive sales practices and consumer remedies, especially if the seller is a business entity.
DTI e-commerce and consumer complaint mechanisms may be relevant for online sellers. For tourism-specific businesses, DOT involvement is often more direct (see below).

E. Tourism regulation and accreditation (administrative)

The Department of Tourism (DOT) accredits tourism enterprises (including many travel and tour agencies/operators). If the “agency” is:

falsely claiming DOT accreditation, or
operating as a tourism enterprise without proper accreditation (depending on category), this can be the basis of an administrative complaint and can help enforcement and public warnings.

F. Data Privacy Act – RA 10173 (situational)

If the scam involves misuse of your personal data (passport bio page, selfies, IDs) or doxxing/extortion, there may be separate privacy complaints—but this is not the usual “refund” path.

3) Choose your remedy track (you can use more than one)

Track 1: Criminal complaint (to pursue the scammers)

Where to go:

NBI Cybercrime Division (or local NBI office that can refer)
PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group (ACG)
Your local police (who may coordinate with ACG)
Ultimately, the Office of the City/Provincial Prosecutor for the filing of a criminal complaint (preliminary investigation)

Best for:

payment made but nothing delivered
repeated victims / syndicate behavior
fake bookings / fabricated confirmations
impersonation of legitimate agencies

Possible outcomes:

criminal case filed in court
subpoenas for platform/telecom/bank data
stronger pressure for settlement/restitution (though not guaranteed)

Track 2: Civil action (to recover money)

Options include:

Small claims (for straightforward money claims, no lawyers typically required; cap and rules are set by the Supreme Court and have changed over time—check your local court for the current maximum and coverage)
Regular civil case (collection of sum of money, damages) if the claim is complex or exceeds small claims limits

Best for:

you know the real identity/address of the respondent
you have clear proof of payment and the agreement
you want a judgment for money, not necessarily criminal punishment

Track 3: Administrative / regulatory complaints (to stop operations and penalize businesses)

DOT complaint (if they present themselves as a travel/tour agency/operator, claim accreditation, or are within DOT’s regulatory scope)
DTI complaint (especially if they are selling services online to consumers; may help for mediation/settlement if the seller is a reachable business)

Best for:

the scammer is using a business name, ads, and public operations
you want takedowns, sanctions, and public protection
you want mediation pathways (when the seller is identifiable)

Track 4: Platform + payment rails (fastest damage control)

Report the account/page/listing to the social media platform
Report to your bank/e-wallet/remittance provider
Attempt chargeback if paid by credit card (time-sensitive)
Request fraud review for InstaPay/PESONet transfers where applicable (recovery is not assured, but early reporting matters)

Best for:

time-sensitive fund recovery
preventing further victimization

4) Step-by-step: what to do immediately (first 24–72 hours)

Step 1: Stop further loss and secure accounts

Do not send additional “processing fees,” “rebooking fees,” or “release fees.”
If you shared OTPs, passwords, or remote access: change passwords, lock accounts, contact your bank/e-wallet immediately.

Step 2: Preserve evidence (do this before the scammer deletes content)

Create a single folder with:

A. Identity + representation evidence

Screenshots of the page/profile, username/handle, profile URL
Posts/ads offering the promo/package
Claims of accreditation (DOT number, business permits, “IATA,” etc.)
Phone numbers, emails, Telegram/Viber/WhatsApp handles

B. Conversation evidence

Full chat logs (scroll up and capture from the first message to the last)
Screenshots showing timestamps and the account name/handle
If possible, export/download the conversation from the platform

C. Transaction evidence

Bank transfer receipts, e-wallet transaction IDs, reference numbers
Deposit slips, remittance receipts, screenshots of checkout/payment page
If card payment: card statement line items, merchant descriptor
Any invoice, itinerary, voucher, “booking confirmation,” reference code

D. Loss/damage evidence

Proof you were not issued valid tickets/vouchers
Airline/hotel verification messages (if you confirmed the booking is invalid)
Additional losses (e.g., replacement booking costs) with receipts

Practical tip: Take screenshots that include the URL bar (where possible) and ensure your screenshots show date/time.

Step 3: Identify the scammer (even partial info helps)

Check if the payee account name matches the page name
Note beneficiary bank/e-wallet details, mobile number, QR code
Reverse-search the phone number (if available) across apps you use
Look for patterns: identical captions, repeated promo graphics, cloned pages

Step 4: Report to payment provider

File a fraud report with the bank/e-wallet/remittance provider
Ask for the process to request recall/chargeback (if available)
Ask for any case/ticket number and keep it

Step 5: Report to the platform

Report page/profile for fraud/scam
Submit proof where the platform allows
Encourage other victims (if you know them) to report too

5) Filing a criminal complaint in the Philippines: the usual route

A. Where to file

You can start with law enforcement (NBI/PNP ACG) for help identifying suspects and preserving digital evidence, but the formal prosecution step is typically:

Office of the City Prosecutor / Provincial Prosecutor (for preliminary investigation)

Some areas accept filings through designated email systems or e-filing arrangements; many still require physical submission.

B. What you will file: Complaint-Affidavit + annexes

A standard package includes:

Complaint-Affidavit (narrative with sworn statements)
Attachments/Annexes (screenshots, receipts, IDs, logs)
Certificate of non-forum shopping (more common in civil cases; prosecutors may not require it, but local rules vary)
Witness affidavits (if others transacted with you or witnessed the dealings)
Copy of your valid ID and sometimes proof of address

Notarization: Your affidavit must be sworn (subscribed and sworn before a notary public or authorized officer).

C. What to allege (for estafa-type scams)

Your affidavit should clearly state:

Who you dealt with (account name/handle; any real name; phone number)
What was promised (package details; dates; inclusions; price; “confirmed booking” claims)
When/where it happened (dates; online platform used; where you were when you paid/received messages)
How you paid and how much (transaction IDs, bank/e-wallet details)
What happened after payment (non-delivery, excuses, blocking)
Your damage (amount lost; additional costs)
A request to investigate and file charges

D. What happens next (typical timeline in stages)

Evaluation and docketing
Issuance of subpoena to the respondent (if identifiable/reachable)
Respondent submits counter-affidavit
Optional reply from you
Prosecutor issues a resolution (dismissal or finding of probable cause)
If probable cause: Information filed in court, case proceeds

If the suspect cannot be identified, law enforcement assistance becomes crucial for attribution through bank/e-wallet records and platform/telecom data—usually requiring proper legal process.

6) Administrative complaints: DOT and DTI (when and why)

A. DOT complaint (tourism enterprise / travel and tour services)

File with DOT when:

the seller claims DOT accreditation (possibly fake), or
operates as a tourism enterprise within DOT’s coverage, or
uses branding suggesting a legitimate travel/tour operator

Why file DOT:

administrative sanctions (where applicable)
verification of accreditation claims
coordination for enforcement and consumer advisories

B. DTI complaint (consumer/e-commerce angle)

DTI can help particularly when:

the seller is a reachable business (DTI-registered name, address, contact person)
there is a clear consumer transaction with deceptive or unfair practices

Why file DTI:

mediation/settlement
consumer protection enforcement pathways (Results depend heavily on whether the seller is identifiable and within DTI’s reach.)

7) Civil recovery options

A. Small claims (when it fits)

Small claims is designed for:

straightforward money claims
clear proof of obligation and non-payment/refund
minimal complexity

Real-world limitation: If the scammer used fake identities/addresses, serving summons and enforcing a judgment can be hard.

B. Regular civil action

Use when:

damages are substantial or complex
there are multiple defendants (e.g., a registered corporation + responsible officers)
you need additional remedies (injunctions, broader damages)

C. Barangay conciliation (Katarungang Pambarangay)

For many civil disputes between parties residing in the same city/municipality, barangay conciliation may be a precondition before court action. However:

it generally does not control criminal prosecution the same way, and
applicability depends on location and the nature of the case If the “seller” is anonymous or outside your locality, barangay processes may be impractical.

8) Evidence: making your screenshots and chat logs “case-ready”

A. The goal: authenticity + completeness

Authorities and prosecutors look for:

clear linkage between the account and the promises
clear linkage between the payment and that account/person
clear proof of non-delivery or deception

B. Best practices

Capture screenshots showing the account name/handle and the message content
Keep original files (don’t just paste into social media posts)
Back up to at least two locations (cloud + local)
Keep a simple index: “Annex A – FB Page profile,” “Annex B – Chat screenshots,” etc.
If you have voice calls: note time/date and summarize in your affidavit; record only if lawful and you can properly explain it

C. Electronic evidence acceptance

Philippine rules generally allow electronic evidence when properly identified and authenticated. The safest approach is to:

attach the screenshots/exports, and
explain in your affidavit how you obtained them, and
keep the originals for presentation if required later

9) A practical complaint-affidavit outline (use as a guide)

1. Caption and parties

“COMPLAINT-AFFIDAVIT”
Your name, age, address
Respondent: account handle + any known identity details

2. Facts (chronological)

How you found the ad/page
Representations made (promo, accreditation claims, “confirmed booking”)
Agreement details: dates, inclusions, price
Payment details: date/time, amount, channel, transaction reference
Post-payment events: excuses, delays, blocking, fake documents
Verification attempts (airline/hotel check)

3. Damage

Exact amount lost
Additional costs (if any)

4. Evidence list (annexes)

Enumerate attachments with short descriptions

5. Prayer

Request investigation and prosecution under appropriate laws
Request subpoenaing of bank/e-wallet/platform records as needed

6. Jurat

Signed and notarized

10) Common pitfalls (that can weaken cases)

Paying via channels with no trace (cash meetup, unreceipted deposits) when avoidable
Posting public accusations with names before filing (risk of counter-claims; keep it factual and evidence-driven)
Incomplete screenshots (no handle/URL, no timestamps, missing earlier messages)
Mixing multiple unrelated transactions into one narrative without clear segmentation
Waiting too long to report (platform data and bank trails can become harder to retrieve)

11) If there are multiple victims: coordinate

If you can safely connect with other victims:

gather affidavits from each victim
compile a list of amounts, dates, payment channels
submit as a consolidated packet to investigators/prosecutors Patterns help establish intent and refute “misunderstanding” defenses.

12) Prevention checklist (to avoid repeat scams)

Before paying any social-media travel seller:

Verify DOT accreditation (and confirm the details match the same business)
Look for a verifiable office address and landline, not just chat
Avoid “personal” bank accounts when the seller claims to be a company
Prefer payment methods with dispute mechanisms (credit cards)
Verify booking directly with the airline/hotel using official channels
Be wary of extreme discounts, urgency, and “limited slots” pressure

13) Quick decision guide: where should you file first?

If you paid and got nothing / got fake bookings: → Start with payment provider report + platform report, then file criminal complaint (NBI/PNP ACG + Prosecutor).

If the seller is a known, reachable business and you mainly want a refund: → Add DTI (mediation) and/or civil small claims if appropriate.

If they claim DOT accreditation or operate publicly as a travel/tour agency: → Add DOT administrative complaint alongside criminal/civil steps.

14) What “all there is to know” really means in practice

There isn’t one single “best” complaint—effective action usually combines:

fast reporting to banks/e-wallets and platforms (damage control),
strong evidence preservation, and
criminal + administrative + civil options depending on identifiability and goals.

If you share the basics (platform used, how you paid, amount, and what exactly was promised vs delivered), a tailored filing plan can be laid out: which track first, where to file in your area, and what annexes to prioritize.