PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group spox on surge of fake Facebook accounts: "Nagkataon lang"

The spokesperson of the Philippine National Police–Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG) on Tuesday said the surge of fake Facebook accounts recently is just a coincidence.

Interviewed on Dobol B sa News TV, PNP - ACG spokesperson Police Captain Jeck Robin Gammad said cases of computer-related identity theft is not new to them.

“Itong identity theft ay hindi bago sa kasalukuyan. Nagkataon nga lang po sa panahon na ito ay dumagsa at dumami ang ginagaya o kinokopya na account," he said. 

He said from January to May 2020, they already received 185 complaints of computer-related identity theft.

"Sa ngayon po, meron lamang po tayong natatanggap din na report. Gaya ng nabanggit ko kanina, hindi po ito bago sa atin sa PNP - Anti-Cybercrime Group,” Gammad said.

“Nagkataon lang din po ngayong mga panahong ito na pati ang mga prominenteng tao kagaya po ng high-ranking officials natin sa PNP, mga estudyante, at kahit ordinaryong tao ay ginagaya ang kanilang accounts,” he added.

According to him, even PNP deputy chief for operations Police Lieutenant General Guillermo Eleazar has eight fake Facebook accounts.

“Doon po sa walo na na-monitor natin, anim po dito ang napa-take down na po natin sa pamamagitan ng direct reporting at request sa official e-mail po ng ating Facebook Philippines,” he added.

However, National Privacy Commission (NPC) chief Raymund Liboro earlier said the surge of account is “very unusual.”

Liboro warned that the proliferation of fake accounts in Facebook can be dangerous especially if an account is used without authorization.

Early this month, multiple, duplicate, and fake accounts emerged following the protests against anti-terrorism bill.

The NPC invited Facebook Philippines to a meeting, which is set on Tuesday, “to seek more information regarding the numerous reports of impostor Facebook accounts.”

Gammad said victims of computer-related identity theft or cloned accounts can file a complaint by going to their office or calling their hotline 0998 5988116.

He added they are currently developing a system where the public can file their complaint through electronic means.—AOL, GMA News