MANILA, Philippines – The Land Transportation Office (LTO) announced over the weekend that it would collaborate more closely with the Philippine National Police (PNP) in going after online scammers/fixers.
“We will enhance our partnership with the PNP-ACG (anti-crime group) to catch these scammers who are proliferating online,” said LTO chief Vigor Mendoza II Mendoza in a statement on Sunday.
The LTO regional office in Bicol previously reported that online scammers are asking for a large sum in exchange for securing driver’s licenses — mostly in buy-and-sell groups on social media.
“Talamak online itong mga grupo na nag-aalok ng tulong para mapadali umano ang pakikipag-transaksyon sa LTO gaya ng pagkuha ng student permit, lisensya o pag-renew ng sasakyan. Sa huli, nangloloko lamang sila at pineperahan lamang ang publiko,” he added.
(These groups are rampant online and offer help to allegedly facilitate LTO transactions such as obtaining a student permit, license, or vehicle renewal. Ultimately, they are just cheating and ripping off the public.)
Mendoza encouraged netizens to be part of the fight against online scammers and to report groups and individuals involved in such schemes.
“More than anyone else, kailangan ng mga awtoridad ang tulong ng publiko upang masawata natin itong mga scammers na ito na ginagamit at sinasamantala ang teknolohiya upang makapang-loko ng tao,” Mendoza said.
(More than anyone else, the authorities need the public’s help so that we can stop these scammers who use and take advantage of technology to scam the public.)
“Huwag kayong magdalawang-isip na ireport sa LTO o sa pulisya kung may impormasyon kayong alam tungkol sa mga grupong ito,” he added.
(Don’t hesitate to report to the LTO or the police if you have any information about these groups.) (Ivana Romero, INQUIRER.net trainee)