Bogus city employees exploit senior citizens

CEBU, Philippines - The Mandaue City government has warned its residents of con artists who pretend to be employees of the city to steal from senior citizens.

Esperanza Aligway of the Office of Senior Citizens (OSCA) said five elderly women have fallen victim to the modus this year. Two men reportedly pretended to be OSCA employees and visited the victims’ residence to offer free blood pressure testing and free massage.

While taking the blood pressure, the men reportedly asked the victims to remove their jewelry as these would affect the test results. The two men then sneaked away with the jewelry.

This is what happened to a resident of Barangay Cabangcalan last July. She said the suspects made her take off her jewelry – two bracelets, a diamond ring, and a necklace – while they were taking her blood pressure.

A resident of Barangay Opao who lost a diamond ring also reported the incident to OSCA last Wednesday. Another woman, a resident of Barangay Labogon, lost an expensive bracelet while two others senior citizens from Barangays Basak and Casuntingan lost assorted jewelry.

The victims said the suspects had a ‘hypnotic effect’ on them so they welcomed the two men into their houses.

Michael Pialago, the City’s focal person on senior citizens, said he has asked the presidents of the 28 chapters of senior citizens organizations to warn their members about the modus.  (FREEMAN)