LTO to boost partnership with PNP to catch online scammers

Land Transportation Office chief, Assistant Secretary Atty. Vigor Mendoza II, on Sunday, said they would strengthen their partnership with the Philippine National Police in running after online scammers who are deceiving the public.

Mendoza said the LTO would meet with the PNP, especially its Anti-Cybercrime Group (ACG) office, to further enhance the measures that will eradicate the illegal activities of these online scammers.

"We will enhance our partnership with the PNP-ACG to catch these scammers who are proliferating online. Talamak online itong mga grupo na nag-aalok ng tulong para mapadali umano ang pakikipag-transaksyon sa LTO gaya ng pagkuha ng student permit, lisensya o pag-renew ng sasakyan. Sa huli, nangloloko lamang sila at pineperahan lamang ang publiko," Mendoza said.

Mendoza also warned online scammers that the LTO would not stop until they are put to justice.

"Hindi titigil ang LTO at iba pang ahensya ng gobyerno hangga't hindi nahuhuli ang mga gaya ninyo na nananamantala lamang ng kapwa. We are determined to put you behind bars," Mendoza stressed.

Mendoza's warning came after the LTO-Bicol reminded the public to be vigilant against online scammers who are asking for huge amounts of money supposedly in exchange for services.

In some cases, the victim will just find out that the licenses provided by these scammers were fake, the LTO Bicol said. It noted that most of these scammers on Facebook were offering their illicit service through buy-and-sell groups.

LTO-Bicol further urged netizens to report these groups, such as the ASP Manila, so the public would no longer fall victim to these illegal transactions.

Mendoza, meanwhile, also encouraged netizens to be part of this fight against online scammers.

"More than anyone else, kailangan ng mga awtoridad ang tulong ng publiko upang masawata natin itong mga scammers na ito na ginagamit at sinasamantala ang teknolohiya upang makapang-loko ng tao," Mendoza said.

"Huwag kayong magdalawang-isip na ireport sa LTO o sa pulisya kung may impormasyon kayong alam tungkol sa mga grupong ito," he added.