By Sofia Baldonado
Following the fake solicitation incident of a scammer asserting affiliation with De La Salle University– Dasmariñas Pre-Medical Society (DPMS), DPMS Executive Director Kimberly Reyes found the person behind the fake Facebook profile illegally impersonating a De La Salle Medical and Health Sciences Institute (DLSMHSI) student.
The scammer turned out to be a former high school teacher of the student victim.
In a Green FM interview on Friday, Nov. 27, Reyes said a man reached out through the DPMS Facebook page asking about a ‘former student’ of the organization, Angela Mae Pascua.
He was allegedly scammed and became suspicious when the student asked for more after he successfully transferred P1,000 to the student’s GCash account.
Reyes explained how the man assumed the scammer’s association with DPMS, “Hindi kasi na-elaborate (ng lalaki) kung paano nanghingi (‘yung student) or for what purpose… nung tiningnan ko ‘yung ‘About’ ng student sa [Facebook] profile niya, nakalagay doon, ‘studied at DPMS’. Obviously, hindi siya legit, [dahil] first and foremost, hindi naman kami university”.
The incident happened on Saturday, Nov. 20, the same day when DPMS released an official statement dissociating their organization with the said scammer, following the advice of Student Development Activities Office (SDAO) Director Eric Vargas.
Reyes mentioned that when she found out that the profile pictures used by the scammer were stolen, she immediately searched for the actual student, who was later identified as DLSMHSI student Darla Patdu.
“Kilala na ni Darla ‘yung scammer kasi hiningi ko [sa lalaki] ‘yung GCash number ng scammer, Kapag sa GCash kasi makikita ‘yung full name ng recipient, tapos sinabi ko kay Darla [yung pangalan],” the executive director of DPMS added.
Following the information, Patdu then posted her statement to disclose publicly that her photos are being used by a scammer.
The said DLSMHSI student also uploaded screenshots showing her conversations with other people who claimed to be victims of the solicitation.
In the same post, Patdu announced that she is preparing to press charges against her former high school teacher.
Pertaining on the DPMS’ experience, Reyes sent out a warning to other students and student-led organizations to take precautions, particularly to their activities with monetary funds involved.
“If ever na may ibang organizations or ibang students na makaranas, hopefully wala naman… raise it sa higher-ups or authorities, lalo na ngayong halos lahat ng transactions natin online na para maiwasan na rin ‘yung [may mabiktima],” she stressed.
To read the official statement released by the DPMS regarding the issue, click the link below:
https://www.facebook.com/DLSUD.PreMedSociety/posts/5152252964790014
