ILOILO – A growing number of residents in this province are being targeted by text and phone scammers who pretend to be high-ranking police officers in a bold scheme to extract money, mobile load, and sensitive information.
Police Colonel Bayani Razalan of the Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO) raised the alarm over the rising trend of identity fraud involving individuals posing as police personnel, including chiefs of municipal police stations, to deceive unsuspecting victims.
“These are criminal attempts to exploit the public’s trust in the police,” Razalan said, clarifying that no member of the Philippine National Police (PNP) is authorized to solicit money, load, or any personal details through calls or text messages.
The warning follows a recent incident in Barotac Nuevo town where a scammer used the name of Police Captain Cedrick B. Cruz, the officer-in-charge of the town’s police station, in an extortion attempt.
The scammer used the mobile number 0967 068 5022, which the IPPO confirmed is not linked to any PNP officer.
In response, the Barotac Nuevo Municipal Police Station released a public advisory, reminding residents to be vigilant and immediately report suspicious messages or calls to authorities.
The IPPO issued the following guidelines to help the public avoid falling victim:
* Do not share personal or financial information with unknown or unverified numbers.
* Treat any unsolicited request for money or load via text or call as a red flag.
* Directly verify the identity of the caller through official police hotlines or by visiting the nearest police station.
Razalan encouraged citizens to report all similar scam attempts to aid law enforcement in tracking and shutting down these fraudulent operations./PN
