Facebook disables ‘poser’ accounts using Cascolan’s name

MANILA, Philippines — Social networking giant Facebook has disabled three “poser” accounts illegally using the identity of Philippine National Police chief Gen. Camilo Cascolan to scam people online, the PNP reported yesterday.

Investigators from the Anti-Cybercrime Group (ACG) traced the poser accounts to several cases of online swindling and estafa, mostly solicitation of funds from unsuspecting victims purportedly for social welfare and humanitarian projects.

Four suspects responsible for the bogus Facebook accounts were issued subpoenas over the weekend, according to the ACG.

ACG director Brig. Gen. Marvin Pepino said the suspects were ordered to appear at the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) as part of the inquiry into fake Facebook accounts using the name of Cascolan in online racket.

Pepino said three Facebook poser accounts have been identified under the names “Camilo Pancratius Pikoy Cascolan,” “Camilo P Cascolan” and Camilo Cascolan, misrepresenting the page as owned by the PNP chief.

Pepino said the operators of these accounts made fund solicitations.

He said the ACG launched an investigation and case buildup on the activities of persons behind the fake Facebook accounts.

“The joint ACG-CIDG investigation seeks to further develop facts and new inputs to identify the personalities behind online scams using these bogus Facebook accounts,” Pepino said.

Police has asked Facebook to take down these pages to prevent the suspects from victimizing more people.

Facebook’s Law Enforcement Outreach manager Rob Abrams confirmed that Facebook has disabled these poser accounts.

“These fake accounts have been active on social media enticing Facebook users to donate funds purportedly to purchase computer tablets for the online classes of students in urban poor communities,” Pepino said.

The ACG warned perpetrators of similar schemes that they would face charges of violation of Republic Act 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act, identity theft and estafa.