PNP CHIEF Gen. Guillermo Eleazar yesterday warned the public against scammers using the names of personalities, even presidential aspirants, to cheat people of their hard-earned money.
Eleazar made the warning after policemen arrested last Friday five individuals posing as political leaders of presidential aspirant Sen. Manny Pacquiao, in Camarin, Caloocan City.
The scammers, who claimed they were asked to recruit cleaners, sold daily time records to Caloocan City residents for P30 each, and promised them they will be given P7,500 cash from Pacquiao if they can show records they cleaned their community.
The Pacquiao camp has denied involvement in the scheme, leading to the conduct of police operations.
“I want to warn the public to be alert and not readily trust people who are dropping the names of personalities, including the politicians, to get favor or cash,” Eleazar said.
“I have tasked concerned police units to keep an eye out for this modus to prevent unscrupulous individuals from cheating our countrymen of their hard-earned money,” added Eleazar.
Eleazar said there have been other instances wherein criminal elements used political personalities to dupe people of cash. He did not elaborate.
“There are many scammers during this time who would take advantage of the needs and desperation of other people just to earn money,” said Eleazar.
“Most the time, the modus of these scammers is to drop the names of personalities so they can earn the trust of their victims with the promise that they (victims) will get something big in return or instant benefits in exchange for a little investment,” said Eleazar.
