Filipino Families Scammed by Fake Online Resorts: PNP Investigation Underway

Several Filipino families recently fell victim to an online scam that targeted popular beach resorts. Fake Facebook pages, designed to mimic legitimate resorts, defrauded victims of significant sums of money. News5's Frontline Tonight interviewed KC, one victim, who explained, "When we inquired, they were very accommodating, sending us photos, making us feel it was the resort's page." Another victim, OJ, shared, "It's a heavy feeling because 5,000 pesos is a lot of money." The PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group is actively investigating, aiming to hold the perpetrators accountable. The report serves as a cautionary tale, emphasizing the importance of due diligence when booking vacations online. Villa Elisa Resort, one of the resorts whose image was used in the scam, is also a victim, with Atty. Annalisa Cruz stating that over 100,000 pesos in damages are estimated. The police are committed to bringing those responsible to justice.