Public warned vs swindler pretending to be PNP chief Cascolan

The Philippine National Police on Tuesday warned the public against "cybercrime swindling operation" of an individual pretending to be PNP chief Police General Camilo Pancratius Cascolan.

“We welcome well-meaning messages and posts on social media that assist us in reaching out to the public, but we will not allow the name of the PNP and its officials to be misused for shady activities,” PNP spokesperson Police Colonel Ysmael Yu said in a press statement.

According to the PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group, a poser created a Facebook account, under the name of Cascolan, "to bolster his criminal misrepresentation and impersonation scheme."

Investigators has already identified the owner and creator of the said account. Authorities also alerted social media giant Facebook regarding the matter.

PNP-ACG chief Police Brigadier General Dennis Agustin said case build-up operations against the suspect yielded evidence that will establish a strong case for violation of anti-cybercrime laws.

"Arrest is imminent as soon as a warrant of arrest is obtained," Agustin said without identifying the suspect.

Cascolan was informed of the illegal activities of the suspect by a friend whose nephew cop in Cabanatuan City was almost duped into sending P10,000 in exchange for a reassignment in a preferred post.

Data from the PNP-ACG indicated that as of September 17, a total of 76 persons have been charged for 113 separate cases of cybercrime-related offenses while 27 violators have been arrested since March.

"The PNP has stepped-up anti-cybercrime operations in anticipation of possible surge in cybercrime incidents or non-contact crime cases in areas under community quarantine where a 47% drop in traditional crime trend was experienced as a direct result of strict border control, travel restrictions, and rigid quarantine control protocols," Yu said.—AOL, GMA News