DILG warns public against scammers posing as contact tracers

On thursday, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) warned the public against persons posing as part of the government’s contact tracing team to trick them into paying for fake coronavirus testing.

Photo credit: pcmag.com

Interior Undersecretary and spokesperson Jonathan Malaya said the scammers sent text messages or called up individuals, telling them that they had been identified as close contacts of a COVID-19 patient, and that they needed to undergo testing and pay for it. He said, 

We ask the public to be vigilant. Let us not easily trust these people calling or texting and asking for money. If there is money involved, that is a scam.

He said legitimate contact tracing teams from the government would never ask for money.

Malaya noted these scammer groups are charging $50 (P2,456) for each test kit.

He added the DILG received reports the scammers are mostly operating in Bulacan, Pampanga and Tarlac.

Based on the DILG Region 3 reports, the modus operandi was a person posing will text or call and introduce themselves as members of a contact tracing team. Then will be asking the victim to undergo COVID-19 testing within 72 hours because of their supposed close contact with a COVID-positive case. When asked who the COVID-19 patient is, the scammer will refuse to identify the supposed individual citing the Data Privacy Act. If the victim said yes, the scammers would then ask for their credit card number or other financial details. However, should the victim hesitate or refuse to take the test, the scammers would threaten them with penalties.

Malaya urged scam victims to report such incidents to the nearest police station or to the DILG through hotline 911.

In order to confirm if the contract tracers are legitimate, public may check with their own municipal city or health offices Malaya said.

More than 60, 000 contact tracers are still needed by the government to be deployed mostly in high risk areas, he added.