Public warned vs housing scam
DHSUD Secretary Jose Rizalino Acuzar renewed the agency’s warning following reports of fraudulent activities targeting vulnerable groups.
DHSUD Secretary Jose Rizalino Acuzar called on the public to report attempts to solicit money from individuals or groups posing as agents of the Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino Program.
Photograph courtesy of DHSUD
The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) has sounded the alarm against scammers exploiting the Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino (4PH) program to solicit money from unsuspecting individuals, including overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).
DHSUD Secretary Jose Rizalino Acuzar renewed the agency’s warning following reports of fraudulent activities targeting vulnerable groups.
According to information relayed to DHSUD, certain individuals or groups are enticing “investors,” particularly OFWs, to finance 4PH projects in exchange to attractive return rates.
Scam not scheme
“We do not accept investors for the construction of 4PH projects. There is no authorized office or individual, even here at DHSUD, to engage in transactions involving this kind of investment scheme,” Acuzar said.
“That is clearly fake news, or worse a scam,” he added.
Acuzar urged the public to report any information regarding private individuals or groups posing as “agents” of 4PH as he stressed that those interested in 4PH should only channel their queries and concerns to DHSUD or their host local government units (LGUs).
The housing czar said any information relayed to DHSUD would be handled with utmost confidentiality as he vowed to throw the book against those found abusing 4PH.
“We will exert the full force of the law against these unscrupulous individuals or groups preying on unsuspecting victims,” Acuzar vowed.
He assured that the DHSUD will not tolerate any illegal act meant to discredit or derail the current implementation of 4PH in various parts of the country.