PNP hunts scammers targeting seniors

The Philippine National Police (PNP) is investigating reports of individuals posing as government health workers to enter senior citizens’ homes and steal money and valuables.

The PNP said police units had been directed to coordinate with concerned government agencies and investigate reports involving people impersonating government personnel to offer supposed financial assistance.

The directive followed reported incidents in Talisay City, Cebu and Ibajay, Aklan.

In Cebu, two men allegedly introduced themselves as employees of the Office for Senior Citizens Affairs and claimed they were distributing P6,000 in financial aid.

The suspects reportedly gained the trust of a 77-year-old man and entered his home on the pretext of conducting a checkup. They allegedly took his P60,000 necklace and a wallet containing P600.

The OSCA later denied that the men were its employees and said no such aid distribution was being conducted.

P10K aid

In Aklan, a woman allegedly introduced herself as a representative of the Department of Social Welfare and Development and offered a senior citizen P10,000 in assistance.

She asked for the victim’s Senior Citizen ID and was allowed inside after claiming she needed to use the bathroom. Two other individuals later entered the house.

After the group left, the victim discovered that an envelope containing P15,000 and 140 euros was missing.

The group also reportedly approached another senior citizen in Kalibo but was stopped by the victim’s grandchild.

“The PNP strongly condemns this modus and will not allow criminals to take advantage of our senior citizens,” PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said.

Verify

Nartatez urged the public to verify the identity and authority of anyone claiming to represent a government agency before accepting offers of assistance.

“Do not surrender personal identification cards or allow strangers into your homes without first confirming their identity with the concerned agency or local authorities,” he said.