Senator Ping Lacson exposes impersonator scamming for “typhoon aid”
• Senator Panfilo "Ping" Lacson exposed a scammer who used the name of former Rep. Josephine Sato to solicit donations via Viber
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• The scammer requested financial aid for a supposed "typhoon-damaged orphanage" in Occidental Mindoro
• Lacson, who was not fooled, was able to identify the scammer and has warned the public to be vigilant
• The incident highlights how scammers are shifting from traditional text messages to online messaging apps, even after the SIM Card Registration Act was implemented
An impersonator using the name of a former lawmaker has attempted to solicit donations from Senator Panfilo "Ping" Lacson via Viber for a supposedly typhoon-damaged orphanage in Occidental Mindoro.
Source: UGC
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Sen. Lacson exposed the scam and is now working with authorities to track down the perpetrator.
The senator has publicly warned the public about a scammer who attempted to deceive him using a fake identity.
The senator revealed on his official X (formerly Twitter) account that a person, misrepresenting themselves as former Occidental Mindoro Rep. Josephine "Nene" Sato, sent him Viber messages soliciting financial support.
The scammer claimed the funds were needed to rebuild an orphanage in the province that had been damaged by a recent typhoon.
Lacson, known for his vigilance and investigative background as a former chief of the Philippine National Police, was not fooled.
He stated that the scammer "contacted the wrong guy," and he was able to identify the individual. "I have his real identity, even his photo on his SSS ID.
GOTCHA, IDIOT!" Lacson wrote in his post. The scammer had also provided an e-wallet number, presumably for the donation drive, which Lacson also captured.
This incident comes at a time when Occidental Mindoro has indeed been placed under a state of calamity, with over 30 barangays submerged in floods due to the combined effects of tropical cyclones Crising, Dante, Emong, and the southwest monsoon.
Scammers frequently exploit such disasters, preying on the public's generosity and desire to help those in need.
The method used by the scammer—impersonating a public figure and soliciting donations through an online messaging app—reflects the changing tactics of cybercriminals in the Philippines.
This shift has been particularly noticeable since the implementation of the SIM Card Registration Act in July 2023.
While the law was passed with the promise of curbing text scams, authorities from the Department of Information and Communications Technology have noted that many fraudsters have simply moved to online platforms like Viber, Telegram, and other messaging services, which are harder to regulate.
Lacson said he is coordinating with law enforcement to ensure the individual is held accountable and urged the public to be more vigilant.
This incident serves as a stark reminder that while the SIM card law has addressed one avenue of fraud, it has not eliminated the problem entirely.
Instead, it has forced scammers to adapt, making it crucial for citizens to verify any unsolicited requests for aid, especially those made through online platforms, before donating.
News, photos, or videos that arouse the interest of netizens would often go viral on social media, due to the attention netizens give them. These viral posts appeal to the emotions of netizens, and in rare cases, this could also happen to ordinary people, making them very relatable stories that people could easily understand and relate in their lives.
In other news, an initial DOH toxicology report identified cypermethrin, a pesticide, as the cause of the mass fainting of around 300 students in Antique province last July 2. Sibalom Mayor Gian Carlo Occeña stated that airborne pesticide drift, worsened by weather conditions, led to environmental contamination within the school premises. Symptoms experienced by students, such as difficulty breathing, chest pains, vomiting, and chills, were consistent with acute exposure to pyrethroid pesticides. The Sibalom LGU emphasized that the toxicology report is not yet final, pending results of additional environmental samples for laboratory analysis.
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