The Philippine National Police (PNP) has issued a warning against "smishing" activities using the name of PNP acting chief Police Lieutenant General Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr.
Scammers are reportedly sending text messages impersonating Nartatez, using his supposed official cellphone number and even his profile picture.
The impersonator falsely claimed to be in a late-night meeting with the President to lend credibility to the scam.
High-ranking PNP officials have also reportedly received these deceptive texts.
PNP spokesperson Police Brigadier General Randulf Tuaño stated that Nartatez does not authorize anyone to use his name or position for personal gain.
The PNP emphasized that such misrepresentation is a serious offense and can lead to criminal charges under the Cybercrime Prevention Act.
In 2024, a total of 6,157,517 SMS scams were reported in the Philippines.
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