The internet, particularly social media, is fast becoming as the weapon of choice for scheming businesses and individuals.
After the investment scam that swept across the region using a Ponzi-like proposition, next came a deceiving lending business offering instant loans but with exorbitant interests. It is likely that this business was also conceived to ride high on the fast-growing investment schemes where people wanting to get instant cash through payouts do everything from mortgaging property to availing of financial loans in order to have pay-in money.
On Sunday, no less than Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio issued a statement denying an advertisement posted on social media which show the presidential daughter endorsing an online lending. Mayor Sara was quick to deny she is endorsing such lending company and warned the public to be circumspect in dealing with individuals and companies using her name to sell their business.
Mayor Sara is a proven marketing tool in her few endorsements done in the past. This ‘endorsement’ of a lending business is obviously a misrepresentation created not only to increase sales but to project an image of legitimacy.
In the light of these scams on cyberspace, authorities must be vigilant in the new venue for perpetrating crimes and deceit.
Criminal minds have become more creative and unless, our laws and the authorities do not cope with these developments, there will always be a scheming mind out there thinking of a next ploy in the internet.
