DSWD Issues Urgent Alert Over Scammers Impersonating Secretary Rex Gatchalian
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has issued a stern warning to the public regarding a surge in fraudulent activities involving individuals impersonating Secretary Rex Gatchalian to solicit donations. This alarming scheme has been reported across various digital platforms, with scammers exploiting Gatchalian's name and image to deceive unsuspecting victims.
Fraudulent Messages and Deceptive Tactics
In a recent development, scammers have been sending messages on platforms such as Signal and WhatsApp, falsely claiming to be Secretary Gatchalian or his aides. These messages often request large sums of money, citing fabricated reasons like account transfer limits for foundation donations. One such message read: "Maxed out na my account's limit and my staff's account for the fund transfers sa Foundation, baka pwede you can do me a favor, will send it back na lang to your account later (midnight) transferred 950k na for them. Just send me the details."
In other instances, suspects have introduced themselves as "Emman," posing as Gatchalian's staff to contact potential victims. These tactics highlight a sophisticated effort to manipulate trust and extract funds through private messaging apps.
Official Clarification and Public Advisory
Secretary Rex Gatchalian took to Facebook on February 14 to firmly deny any involvement in such solicitations. He stated, "Nais ko pong linawin na hindi ako at hindi kailanman ako nanghihingi o nagso-solicit ng anumang halaga para sa umano’y donasyon sa anumang foundation. Mag-ingat po sa mga nagpapanggap bilang Rex Gatchalian, lalo na sa Signal at WhatsApp, kung saan ginagamit nila ang aking litrato, pangalan, at maging ang contact number upang manloko."
DSWD spokesperson Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao reinforced this message in a statement, emphasizing that Gatchalian does not solicit funds for any foundation and does not authorize aides to request money through private channels. She urged the public to remain vigilant, verify suspicious messages, and refrain from sending money to anyone claiming to represent the DSWD chief.
Steps for Reporting and Prevention
To combat this fraud, Dumlao advised individuals who receive similar messages to report the accounts immediately to authorities and official DSWD channels. She said, "Lagi pong tandaan, kapag may natanggap na ganyang mensahe na nagsosolicit ng pera o pondo gamit ang pangalan ng ating Kalihim o sinuman sa Departamento, ipagbigay alam po agad sa official Facebook account ng DSWD, sa @dswdserves, o sa aming Field Offices upang agad na maaksyunan."
The DSWD's proactive stance aims to protect the public from financial exploitation and maintain the integrity of its operations. This incident underscores the growing need for digital literacy and caution in an era where online impersonation scams are becoming increasingly prevalent.
