Bong Go warns against fraud schemers dropping his name
Credit to Author: Che M. Javier| Date: Thu, 02 Jan 2020 16:13:32 +0000
SEN. Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go on Thursday urged the public to ignore requests from people dropping his name with fraudulent intent.
“If anyone is using my name to defraud others, consider this as your first and last warning. I will not hesitate to file appropriate charges against you,” Go warned.
He issued the statement after his office had received reports of text messages misrepresenting him.
“The text reads as follows: ‘MAAM/SIR Congrats! You are the lucky winner of Php 580,000.00 from (AIM GLOBAL INC.) SPONSORED BY SEN BONG GO. To claim pls text your NAME/AGE/ADD/WORK.DTI #6642S’19,’” Go said.
“For the record, I am not related to AIM GLOBAL INC. in any capacity. My office or I have not sponsored any contest of this kind before. I have always condemned those who are using my name for personal gain and for defrauding our fellow Filipinos. I will not condone these acts,” he said.
“Despite my warnings, there are still persons using my name or even the relatives of President Duterte for their personal interests,” he added.
Go said since Day 1 of the Duterte administration, he and the President have been implementing a zero-tolerance policy against corruption.
“No less than the President himself said that all his relatives are barred from conducting business with the government,” he said.
“Again, I will not hesitate to file charges against anyone using my name to hoodwink the unsuspecting public. My office will immediately file charges against using my name to finally stop this foolishness,” Go said.
On Thursday, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) also warned the public not to believe or be fooled by unscrupulous marketing ploys (including text promo messages) that purport to be endorsed by the government and/or its officials like Go.
“Again, the government or its officials do not engage in private commercial transactions and personal promotion campaign or activity and abhor any techniques that fraudulently use their good name,” the DTI said.
“While the DTI enforces the sales promotions provisions of the Consumer Act, it does not particularly endorse, partner nor support them, especially lucky draw games and raffles,” it stressed.
“Please do not entertain nor transact with them. You may check and validate the registered trade promotions from ask@dti.gov.ph or call 1-DTI (384) to ensure their validity,” it said.
With Anna Leah E. Gonzales