BIZWOMAN ASKS POLICE TO PROBE CYBER SCAM
Prisca Niña Mabatid tells PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group that the name of her recruitment agency was used to scam 5 job seekers
The Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group will investigate an alleged scam that dragged the name of a licensed manpower recruitment agency.
No less than the president and owner of A-Max Philippines International Promotions Inc., Prisca Niña Mabatid, came forward on Wednesday afternoon, Feb. 13, to report the scam that victimized at least five persons for jobs abroad.
“This is to clear my name, and this is to clear the name of my company,” Mabatid told reporters.
The businesswoman expressed worry that the issue might be used against her as she is running for Cebu City councilor in the May elections.
Mabatid, along with two victims, went to the Anti-Cybercrime office at the Cebu City Provincial Office in Lahug, Cebu City to seek an investigation. Mabatid said she has also reported the matter to the Philippine Overseas Employment Agency, the National Bureau of Investigation, and Station 2 of the Cebu City Police Office.
In an interview, Artemio Cagadas, 32, said he received a call and an e-mail asking payment for his application for a job overseas. He decided to confirm this at the A-Max office, where he learned he had been scammed.
Another victim, Johnley Lao, 24, said he never applied with Mabatid’s agency. He was caught off guard when he received an e-mail from A-Max and wondered how they had gotten his personal information and contact details. Lao was a former operations manager in a company.
Mabatid explained that the scam used the domain name amaxphils.com, which is similar to A-Max’s amaxphil.com. One of the five victims lost money, at least P3,000, in the scam.
The businesswoman cautioned applicants against transacting with scammers using her and the company’s name.
The police declined to divulge further details as they are yet to conduct an investigation.