Robredo warns public vs. scammers after P100K worth of goods purchased without her consent

Vice President Leni Robredo on Tuesday warned the public against fraudulent individuals purchasing goods on a cash delivery basis under a different name after being victimized with such a scam herself.

Robredo, in a statement, said she successfully returned around P100,000 worth of goods booked under her name on a cash delivery basis via the Metromart app without her consent and at no charge to delivery drivers involved.

The goods were delivered by three delivery riders to the Office of the Vice President in New Manila, Quezon City.

"Thank you to Metromart and the merchants. Napakadali ng pag-ayos ng return ng goods (The process in returning the goods that we did not purchase was seamless)," Robredo said.

"Sana lang sa panahon ng matinding kagipitan, huwag ng mag-isip ng mga panloloko at yung mga maliliit na naman yung mga nabibiktima (Times are hard, and I wish that people would stop these scams because it is those hardworking individuals who are being victimized)," she added.

Robredo said that the fraudulent order was more detrimental to the delivery riders who had to initially pay for the purchase and deliver them to her office amid the rain.

"When I was told about this, nag-alala ako sa delivery riders. Sobrang abala sa kanila. Baka akala ng scammers yung burden nasa amin. Hindi iniisip na kinakawawa nila yung riders saka yung mga shoppers nila na nabiktima. Umuulan pa naman kahapon and nabasa sila," Robredo said.

(When I was told about this, I was concerned about the delivery riders. This is a big inconvenience for them. Scammers may think the burden is on us. But they did not consider the riders and the shoppers they have victimized. It was also raining yesterday, and the drivers got drenched.)

Metromart, in a separate statement, said the goods delivered to Robredo's office based on fake booking have all been returned to their merchants and that the delivery riders were compensated for such unauthorized purchase.

Likewise, Metromart said they are improving the security of their app in light of the incident and is cooperating with the investigation being made by Robredo's office.

They also echoed Robredo's call not to use their app to prank people because it comes at a high cost to the delivery riders.

"We are calling on the public not to scam, prank and waste the time of our delivery riders and shoppers who are working hard to support their families and risking their lives to safely deliver groceries to Filipino homes amid this pandemic," Metromart added.

Hontiveros, Kiko too

Meanwhile, Senator Risa Hontiveros on Tuesday said she has also been targeted for a scam.

In a Facebook post, Hontiveros said someone pretended to be her and placed an order for a spicy extra large size lechon.

"PROTECT LOCAL BUSINESSES! May BAGONG MODUS ang mga gustong manira sa atin. Magpapanggap na ako at mag-oorder ng nakapangalan sa akin at sa address ng opisina ko," she wrote.

(There is a new modus of those who want to destroy us. They will pretend to be me and order in my name and give my office as the address.)

Hontiveros posted screenshots of an email from Rico's Lechon confirming the order.

"Kawawa ang mga negosyante, mga empleyado, at mga delivery riders na inaagrabrayado," she added.

(The businessmen, employees, and delivery riders are the ones to be affected.)

Senator and vice presidential aspirant Kiko Pangilinan also said on Tuesday his office was notified of an order of frozen meat supposedly ordered by him from Rare Food Shop.

“Mayroong natanggap ang aming opisina sa Senado na mensahe na magde-deliver daw ng frozen meat at wine na nagkakahalaga ng P90,000. Fake po yung order. Buti na lang hindi pa na-deliver," he said.

(Our office at the Senate received a message that frozen and meat worth P90,000 will be delivered. The order is fake. Good thing it was not yet delivered.)

"Pakiusap po sa mga gumagawa nito, hirap na po ang ating mga kababayan sa pandemya, huwag nang manloko pa," Pangilinan added.

(We appeal to scammers, our countrymen are already experiencing hardship amid the pandemic. Do not fool people.) —Llanesca T. Panti/KG, GMA News