Bello warns OFWs vs online scam

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III

LABOR Secretary Silvestre Bello warned overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) against a scam using his name to solicit money from overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

Bello disclosed that some people are using his name on a fake Facebook account to convince their potential victims, primarily targeting OFWs to invest their hard-earned money in bogus businesses.

“I am advising the public, especially our OFWs, to be vigilant so as not to be victimized by these individuals,” Bello said.

“I urge you not to give any information, especially financial in nature, to unidentified persons,” he added.

Bello made the announcement after he received a call from a certain Michael Mendoza, who claimed to have deposited a total of P200,000 to an account given by a caller who introduced himself to be the Secretary.

“This is to notify the public that there is no request from me or from the Department asking for any help,” said Bello.

He encouraged the public to ignore any messages or calls that request solicitations using his name on social media.

Bello advised the public to transact with legitimate business entities so that they will not be victimized by scammers Bello also urged the public to report tothe Department’s Hotline 1349 any information similar to the said scheme.

“If you will encounter any request for solicitations using my name in any social media accounts, please disregard it. It’s a scam,” he said, adding that they had reported the scam to Facebook management.