THE Philippine National Police-Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG) was ordered to look into the “passport appointment for a fee” scheme that is reportedly being offered in social media.
PNP Chief, Police General Guillermo Eleazar said the scheme has already reached the PNP after the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) asked for its assistance regarding the selling of passport application appointment slots offered to many Filipinos via Facebook.
He said he already asked the PNP-ACG to investigate and conduct necessary operations to arrest and that those behind the scheme be held responsible. “We will not allow groups to take advantage of our kababayan, especially Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) with all the difficulties in life happening today because of the pandemic,” he said.
The directive came after DFA Undersecretary Brigido Dulay asked the PNP and the National Bureau of Investigation to unmask those behind Facebook pages and groups that offer a swift passport appointment process to applicants.
Appointment slots for all consular services are free, the DFA has emphasized.
The DFA also asked Facebook to identify and take down these accounts to prevent the public from getting swindled into paying for a service that is completely free of charge.
Meanwhile, PGen Eleazar appealed to the public not to patronize the offers on social media and immediately report to authorities their illegal activities.
He said those who have been victimized by this scam can file their complaints through the various platforms of the PNP’s E-Sumbong.
(PHOTO CREDIT: pna.gov.ph)
PNP-ACG tapped to help stop “passport appointment for a fee” modus on socmed
Source: Bullet News Viral
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