MANILA – The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) on Sunday lambasted once again the mastermind behind the devious use of a fake Facebook (FB) account for personal advantage and to deceive victims using the name of Secretary Silvestre Bello III.
Unscrupulous elements have been fooling unsuspecting victims for months using the fake Facebook account “Silvestre H. Bello III”, but the DOLE chief stated the long arm of the law will soon catch up with them.
The National Bureau of Investigation is focusing its attention on a number of suspects and may shortly reveal the scammers’ identity.
“Our law enforcers are doing a great job. Arrests can be made earlier than expected,” Bello said in a news release.
“We renew our warning to those behind this nefarious scheme of soliciting gifts, in cash and in kind, that the long arm of the law will eventually catch up with them. Stop now and spare friends, acquaintances, and ordinary netizens from your evil designs,” he added.
The scammers solicited support via the bogus account for the labor chief’s community pantry and to help him with his senatorial race.
Bello is not running for the Senate or any other elected office.
The scammers then announced that Bello would be distributing tons of rice as help, but recipients should shoulder the shipping costs.
The would-be victims were requested to deposit money into specific bank accounts in all of the schemes.
Several friends of Bello agreed, forking out negligible amounts to substantial sums.
“Given that this has become deliberate, the scam is seemingly intended to also damage my reputation,” Bello said.
“For the nth time, the public is advised that I don’t maintain an account in Facebook by the name SILVESTRE H. BELLO III. This is fake,” he said, further advising the public to ignore the phony account.
