Despite repeated warnings from the Security and Exchange Commission (SEC) against investment scams, many people are falling prey to various scheming activities in Davao Region
Lawyer Arcelito Albao, director of the National Bureau of Investigation NBI-South Eastern Mindanao Regional Office (NBI SEMRO 11), told media the agency still receives complaints from victims of investment scams in the Davao Region.
“The SEC always gives warning to the people to avoid these investment scammers. But still, more and more people are being victimized by these scammers because of the offer of investment,” Albao told media on Wednesday.
Albao said NBI 11 has apprehended some of these scammers who are mostly “small” members as most of these schemes are being operated by international syndicates headed mostly by Nigerians.
“They have members yung mga Pilipino dito mga victims yung mga nangongomisyon lang. Pag sinabi na okay na yung transactions, gagamit sila ng Pilipino para doon ilagay ang pera and after receiving ito ipapadala na sa mga scammers mismo. Marami na tayong nakasuhan at nahuli na ganitong scams. Maraming mga investment scams and most of these are being operated by syndicates. These are large scale syndicated scams,” he said.
He said the scammers are now also devising other techniques and improvising their scamming activities.
“Kasi nag improve yung mga law enforces and they are also improving their techniques,” he said.
Albao said he cannot divulge the names of the involves as some of them are currently under investigation and some cases were already filed in the City Prosecutors Office (CPO).
Apart from the investment schemes, NBI 11 is also focusing its operations on violators of the cybercrime law.
“Such as skimming, ito yung mga hina-hack ang ATM cards; smishing, kapag nagbigay ka ng one-time PIN mo automatically yung pera at account mo will be swiped off and can order online; hacking and tracking. We also investigating online lending and keep on harassing those may utang na hindi nakapagbayad at pag nag loan ka sa online lending lahat ng mga contacts mo sa Facebook, Messenger, Viber and other numbers kaya nilang kunin. That is why sometimes tinatawagan ka nila that you are a co-maker or guarantor na hindi mo alam,” he said.
NBI 11 is also investigating the “Sweethearts Scam.”
“Kunwari may tumatawag from the Bureau of Customs (BOC) na may padala sa yong mga bagahe or parcel and they are asking for money pangbayad sa parcel but in fact this is not true,” he said.
Albao said they are also setting their sights on illegal recruitment online.
