Filipino migrant’s parents in the Philippines lose P40,000 in fake emergency call scam

A new case of fraud has emerged, preying on Filipinos living abroad and their families back in the Philippines. One recent victim shared his ordeal to warn others, detailing how his parents were tricked by this scam.

The Philippine Consulate General in Sydney has issued an urgent advisory warning the Filipino community about a scam involving individuals impersonating consular officials to extort money from unsuspecting victims.

Key Points

• Sydney-based photographer Mark Gayo and his wife initally posted their experience on social media, urging others to stay vigilant and alert.
• Scammers are impersonating officials from the Philippine Consulate and Embassy, deceiving victims into sending money.
• Mark shared that scammers used a fake emergency call to manipulate his parents, claiming that he had been seriously injured in Australia and needed urgent medical attention. The false information led his parents to believe that Mark was in critical condition and that they needed to send PHP 40,000 to cover medical expenses.

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In response, the Philippine Consulate General in Sydney has issued a public advisory, warning the public about the fraudulent activities. The consulate emphasised that they never request money for emergency assistance and reminded Filipinos to be vigilant against such scams.

The consulate also confirmed that they are coordinating with the victim's family to investigate the matter further.

Konsulado, nanawagan sa publiko na maging mapanuri sa pekeng tawag at mensahe.