Salvador Panelo warns public vs social media scammers

MANILA, Philippines — Social media scammers have become so bold that even presidential spokesman and concurrent presidential legal adviser Salvador Panelo was not spared by the impostors.

At the start of his regular briefing at Malacañang yesterday, Panelo warned the public that he has not asked for solicitations, especially in connection with the rehabilitation efforts for Marawi.

Two of his friends have given a combined amount of P300,000 to the impostors, according to Panelo.

“First, I’d like to warn the public. I was informed that there is an ongoing scam on my Facebook account. Two swindlers have already received I think P200,000 – one, P100,000; two, P200,000,” he said.

“They’re using my name and asking… apparently my friends or those who know me, that I’m asking for donations for Ompong victims in Marawi. It’s not true absolutely,” he added.

Panelo said he has sought the assistance of the National Bureau of Investigation to look into the matter.

“Now, I’m thinking of removing all those Facebook accounts. But what they’re doing is that they activate it and then deactivate it. I already referred this to the NBI as early as… I think more than a month ago,” he said.

Panelo urged his friends not to entertain solicitation via his social media accounts to avoid being victimized by these scammers.

“But there is another one, P200,000. It was deposited in the name of a certain person. So, please, be informed and be cautious. Always call me… Anyway they know my numbers,” he added.