Online libel is top cybercrime in WV

By Jennifer P. Rendon

 

Defamation via the virtual medium remains the top cybercrime reported in Western Visayas.

The PNP Regional Anti-Cybercrime Unit 6 (RACU-6) said it received 48 cyber libel complaints from January 1 to September 30, 2020.

Cyber libel is punishable under Republic Act 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.

“Because internet is now readily available, some individuals might have felt that it is part of their freedom of expression. However, complainants deemed that such freedom is a violation of the law,” Police Colonel Allan Aberia, RACU-6 chief, said

RACU-6 had also reminded the public against falling for online selling scams.

It was gathered that most of these bogus selling happened while the region was on enhanced community quarantine.

Aberia said most of these complaints include bogus sellers of medical equipment and supplies.

“They were lured into buying because it’s cheap,” Aberia said.

Some thought they could re-sell the products for a higher price.

“Most of our complainants claimed that they were enticed to buy in bulk because they were offered big discounts for bulk orders,” he said.

But once they pay, the Facebook page would be deleted, and they could not get a hold of the reseller anymore.

Aberia said it is hard to run after someone who exists in the cyber world and, usually, are not from the region.

The RACU-6 also received several complaints relative to breaches of Republic Act 9995 or “The Anti-Photo and Video Voyeurism Act of 2009″.

“May mga natatanggap din kaming reklamo sa mga nagpapakalat ng hubad na larawan at mga sex videos,” he said.

In fact, they conducted an entrapment operation on September 30 at La Paz, Iloilo City.

Arrested was a woman who allegedly tried to extort money from her ex-boyfriend’s wife.

The suspect allegedly had compromising photos of the man while they were in a relationship.

The complainant, a resident of San Miguel, Iloilo, eventually sought the help of RACU-6.

Recently, RACU-6 has also warned the public against contract tracing scam.

But Aberia said they have not received any complaint, for now.

“We wanted the public to be vigilant against this,” he said.

In the said scheme, scammer who will call would say, “According to our contact tracing you have been in close proximity to someone who has been tested for COVID-19. This means you now need to self-isolate and take the COVID-19 test. I cannot give you any information about the person or the whereabouts of contact due to privacy laws. But you need to be tested with in the next 72 hours. So, can I get the best mailing address for you so that we can send out a testing kit?”

After the victim gives the address, they will ask for your payment card numbers and details quoting that the test kit and results would incur a P2,500 charge.

If the victim refuses to give their bank card/credit card details, the scammers would threaten claiming that there would be penalties for not complying.

“I hope the public won’t fall into believing this modus operandi,” Aberia said.