One of the most sought after valid Identification (ID) Documents in the Philippines is the NBI Clearance. With all the functions that it serves, life without an NBI Clearance would be difficult. You’ll not be able to transact easily, get employed by government institutions, or even travel abroad. It is thus true to say that your life depends on the NBI Clearance.
Since an NBI Clearance is crucial and a requirement for almost every Filipino, the government has ensured that acquiring one becomes easy. It comes with few requirements and the process is effortless. While this is good news for many citizens, it also poses a huge threat. The cases of forgery have been rampant ever since.
Recto Street, which is known to be the Philippines’ black market, is rich with fake NBI Clearances. You can easily acquire one at a small fee. Acquiring a fake NBI Clearance could have serious repercussions. You will not only be dismissed from your current job occupation but could also be charged with a criminal offense.
So, how do you differentiate a legitimate NBI Clearance from a fake one? We reveal to you all the relevant information. Our article looks at how to verify if an NBI Clearance is authentic or fake. Don’t be caught on the wrong side of the law!
>> Read 5 Easy Steps For NBI Clearance Online Application 2021
Why Do People Acquire Fake NBI Clearances?
Employers in the Philippines have shown strong dissatisfaction for people who use fake NBI Clearances. It kills trust in them. Some employers revealed that if they noted this in their employees, they would not only dismiss them but also report them to relevant local authorities. Acquiring a fake NBI Clearance implies that you are hiding something. And no one, leave alone employers, would want to be associated with such kind of a person.
One of the reasons why people acquire fake NBI Clearances is that they normally look to hide their identities. Such people have pending cases in court. Remember, you cannot acquire an NBI Clearance with a pending court case. Lack of an NBI Clearance, on the other hand, means that you can’t get employed or travel abroad. This is a huge inconvenience to such people. And what do they opt for? You guessed it right- acquire a fake NBI Clearance.
Also, some people are just too lazy to undergo the NBI Clearance process. They deem the process to be ‘tiresome’ and time-consuming. This is true, especially if one gets a HIT Status. The processing period can be relatively long (10 working days).
People who are in a hurry to acquire the NBI Clearance because they are either looking to get employed shortly or want to travel urgently opt for the easier route.
Verifying an NBI Clearance
To verify an NBI Clearance, you need the hard copy of the NBI Clearance that you are trying to authenticate. Afterward, visit the NBI Clearance Official Website.At the bottom left of the screen, click on the ‘NBI CLEARANCE ONLINE VERIFICATION’ button.
There are two ways to authenticate the NBI Clearance:
- Entering the NBI Clearance’s ID Number
- Scanning the QR Code found in the hard copy of the NBI Clearance.
If your phone or laptop/desktop lacks a quality camera, you should opt to insert the NBI ID Number manually. It is easier. Enter your NBI ID Number in the box provided, then click on ‘VERIFY’ at the bottom. The system will then run the ID Number to ascertain whether it is valid.
If you choose to scan the QR Code, click on the ‘SCAN QR CODE’ button found at the bottom part. Proceed on to scan the QR code found in the NBI Clearance within the square box provided.
If the ID Number inserted is valid, a new window will appear with an image (as shown below). The image will reveal the picture and full names of the NBI Clearance and whether it is valid.
If the NBI Clearance is fake, a new window will pop up displaying the following message:
THE SYSTEM CANNOT FIND THE GIVEN NBI ID NUMBER
This is how you verify whether an NBI Clearance is valid or fake.
Conclusion
The process of verifying an NBI Clearance should not take more than five minutes. These five minutes are the difference between employing a legitimate employee from a fraudster. Many employers tend to overlook this process, then later come to regret is. Forgery in the Philippines is considered a ‘Crime Against Public Interest.’ It is illegal and one can face a jail term.
Prevention is better than cure. Take the necessary precautionary measures before it’s too late!