Impostor  

At first, it's amusing to think about and entertain the possibility that someone's existence is fictitious or nonexistent. This is due to the fact that one has already died and another entity or individual is making use of it. To say the very least, it may appear absurd. This is especially true for someone who uses someone else's well-known name for selfish reasons. As a result, former senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.'s presidential candidacy has been petitioned for cancellation before the Commission on Elections on the grounds that he is not the real Mr. Marcos Jr. himself.

According to the petition, he died in a fight while studying abroad, and the Marcos family allegedly found someone with Bongbong's likeness to replace him. This is both intriguing and absurd. And, of course, the former senator denied this, dismissing it as an urban legend.

However, long before this story, there was a similar and popular story about his father, former president Ferdinand Marcos, who allegedly appeared to the public as an impostor in his later years as a dictator. This rumor was fueled by the fact that he was already old and sickly, but his family and allies wanted him to stay in power. So they decided to replace him with someone with the same face just to appear on television for public announcements.

Impostor scams are exactly what they sound like: Crooks pose as someone or something else in order to persuade you to send them money. Impostor scams typically begin with an unsolicited phone call, email, text message, or social media message.

Fraudsters pose as people and organizations you would normally trust or at least listen to. Government agencies are the most common situation. Crooks, on the other hand, may pose as businesses you do business with, such as your bank or the local power utility, charities, a family member or friend, a lawyer or debt collector, or celebrities.

Whatever the pose, the message will be clear: A bill is past due. An account has been hacked. A computer has been infected. Your assistance is required for a worthy cause. A loved one is in danger. Some imposters pretend to bring you good news, such as winning the lottery or receiving a government grant. Making an immediate payment, preferably by gift card or wire transfer, or providing personal information such as a social security or bank account number is all that is required to resolve the problem or claim the prize.

Most impostor scams are one-hit wonders, designed to entice or scare you into making a hasty decision and then vanish. Some con artists, on the other hand, create entire fictitious personas on dating sites or social media and then spend weeks cultivating relationships online. The method may vary, but the end result is the same; the impostor will eventually ask for money, for a reason that appears plausible and using a method that is unlikely to be traceable.

Taking on someone's identity for selfish or other reasons is a form of treachery. Many stories in politics would emerge simply to divert our attention away from the real issues, but whether they are true or not, we must be aware of who is true to what they say during the campaign period versus what they truly render to us once elected, as we do not want to fall into the pit of false promises and be disappointed in the end. History is our most valuable teacher.