By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

During the recent Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Investor Information Seminar, which held two sessions at the MassKara Hall of the Bacolod City Government Center last Thursday and Friday, SEC Human Resources and Administrative Department Director Gerardo del Rosario called on scam victims to come forward and file charges.

“We cannot file cases unless we have witnesses,” he noted.

He provided an example of a recent case out of Los Baños, Laguna, where flyers were distributed promising shares of “Marcos’ ill-gotten wealth” if they paid P50.

Earlier this month, the Negros chapter of Kilusang Pagbabago (Movement for Change) uncovered a scam going on locally where a group called Alyansa General Parent-Teachers’ Association-Indigenous People, Inc. was soliciting money for barangay appointments.

However, the SEC official also noted, some are not aware they have been scammed.

Meanwhile, SEC Commissioner Emilio Aquino said Filipinos have a natural “taking the chance” characteristic, which makes them susceptible to scams.

The two also provided advice on how to identify a scam, highlighting how, many times, a small amount of money is requested for an “impossible” amount in return.

Del Rosario added, scammers mostly target those living in rural areas, such as those working in farming./DGB, WDJ