Beware of fake aid schemes, Go warns public

Senator Christopher “Bong” Go has reminded Filipinos to be vigilant against scammers who maliciously use his name or the Malasakit Center program to prey on unsuspecting victims, particularly through fake social media accounts and pages.

This comes after his office took swift action on a report from a grieving family in Calumpit, Bulacan, who fell victim to a scam while mourning a deceased loved one.

The perpetrators claimed to represent the senator, asking for personal information and eventually a one-time PIN (OTP) for a mobile cash transaction.

The senator, who chairs the Senate Committee on Health and Demography and is the principal author and sponsor of Republic Act 11463, or the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019, expressed outrage over the incident and stressed that such malicious acts exploit people during their time of need.

“There are fellow Filipinos who are already struggling, and yet they are taken advantage of while mourning,” Go said.

He added: “Let’s not immediately trust links sent online, especially if they ask for OTPs or personal information. Let’s be cautious. Be aware that you should never give away personal information to just anyone. Be discerning, even in difficult times.”

He reiterated that legitimate government assistance, including aid from the Malasakit Centers program, is never processed through personal social media accounts or by requesting sensitive information such as OTPs.

“If someone promises you help in exchange for your personal details, that’s definitely a scam,” the senator warned. “If you have doubts, reach out to authorities for verification.”

Go also called on authorities to strengthen efforts to track down and prosecute online scammers who prey on vulnerable Filipinos.