The Philippine National Police (PNP) Anti-Cybercrime Group (ACG) has issued a stern warning against individuals impersonating their office through fake Telegram accounts. These cybercriminals allegedly offer assistance to victims of online scams, only to further exploit them by demanding payments or personal information.
According to the advisory, the PNP ACG does not accept payments or forward cases to lawyers. They also do not process online case filings or promise the return of scammed money. Instead, the agency urges victims to contact them directly or visit their office in person to ensure authentic assistance.
Modus Operandi
These fake accounts reportedly promise to help victims recover stolen funds but require an upfront payment or other suspicious actions. Screenshots shared by the PNP ACG show fake Telegram chats and forged documents designed to trick unsuspecting victims into compliance.
Social Media Reactions
The warning has sparked widespread discussion on social media, with Facebook users sharing their own experiences:
“The fake Telegram account of Anti-Cybercrime also pretends that they can help you recover the money and will ask you to invest 2k to a trading company so they can access the account. Nawalan ka na nga, scam ka pa uli.” (“You already lost money, and now you’re being scammed again.”)
“Same din sa akin po. Buti di ko tinuloy. Mga scammers yan. Sana hulihin rin sila.”
(“The same happened to me. Good thing I didn’t proceed. They’re scammers. I hope they get caught.”)
“Parehas po tayo, maam. Buti di ko pinatulan.”
(“Same with me, ma’am. Good thing I didn’t fall for it.”)
“Truth, ganyan nangyari sakin.”
(“That’s exactly what happened to me.”)
“Worse sa akin po, naghingi ng valid ID! This account talaga un.”
(“It was worse for me—they even asked for a valid ID! It was really that account.”)
Many commenters expressed gratitude for the advisory and relief that they avoided falling victim to the scam.
However, others revealed that they had been scammed twice—first by the original fraudsters and then by the fake Anti-Cybercrime accounts. (Related article: DOUBLE WHAMMY: PNP Arrests Crypto Scammers Who Target People Already Scammed)
Official Contact Information
To prevent falling prey to such schemes, the PNP ACG advises the public to report cybercrimes only through official channels. Victims are encouraged to call their hotlines or visit their website at https://acg.pnp.gov.ph. Official contact numbers include:
- Smart: 09688674302
- Globe: 09671360322
- Dito: 09929893889
The advisory also reminds the public to remain vigilant and refrain from providing personal information or money to unauthorized parties claiming to represent law enforcement.
For immediate concerns, victims are urged to reach out to the PNP ACG directly through their official contact points or visit their offices personally.
This article is published on BitPinas: PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group Warns Public of Fake Telegram Accounts
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