Local guide check pending
What happened
Since September 2025, more than 200 travellers have reported that they paid fake pages for a room and arrived without a valid booking – reported losses of an estimated ₱500,000 (reports differ on whether this covers all cases), according to a report from February 2026. The fake pages imitate real resorts and use their photos, some with thousands of likes. In February 2026 the island’s hotels and resorts warned the public together.
A reported pattern: the “resort” asks for a deposit to a private GCash or Maya number or a personal bank account, sometimes claiming that its bank is “under maintenance”.
Real or fake? Quick check
| Sign | Real resort | Fake page |
|---|---|---|
| Payment | Company account, card, or a known booking platform | Private e-wallet or personal account |
| Facebook page | Older page, same name for years | New page or recent name changes |
| Contact | Same phone number as on the resort’s website or Google profile | Only Messenger, number not found elsewhere |
| Pressure | Normal booking process | “Last room – pay in 30 minutes” |
What to do
- Book through the resort’s own website or a well-known booking platform.
- Call the number on the resort’s official website before you pay.
- Never send money to a private GCash or Maya number.
- Lost money? Report the page to Facebook and to the police, and keep all screenshots.
More tips are on our page about where to stay.
Did you know?
- Page transparency: every Facebook page has a “Page transparency” section that shows when the page was created and whether its name was changed. A new or renamed page is a warning sign – but an old page is no proof that it is genuine.
- “Verified” on Google: a verified Google Business Profile only means that the owner controls the profile – it is still worth checking the phone number and website.
- Our list is coming: bantayan.org is building a free list of official contacts that the businesses themselves confirm to our local guide – no paid listings.
