FAKE. The Quezon City government warns the public not to fall prey to fraudulent schemes such as this text message on Tuesday (Nov. 2, 2021). The city's legal department said it is tracing the sources of the messages, calls, and e-mails that solicit money or merchandise. (Photo courtesy of QC Government Facebook) MANILA - Scammers and con artists are at it again. The Quezon City government issued yet another warning on Tuesday against fraudsters who misrepresent themselves as local officials or connected with the mayor's office. In a Facebook post, the city government said based on the information they gathered, unscrupulous individuals pose as city officials to solicit money or merchandise. Mayor Joy Belmonte said the modus involves voice calls, text or private messages, and emails supposedly from official sources or the city government. "Kindly be advised and remain vigilant. The Office of the City Mayor under Mayor Joy Belmonte and the Departments of the Quezon City Local Government have never, and will never, directly solicit funds or other valuable merchandise from the public," the post read. Belmonte warned that her office and the Quezon City Police Department are investigating the scam and will run after them. City Legal Department head lawyer Orlando Paolo Casimiro, in a statement sent to the Philippine News Agency, assured the guilty will be charged. "The perpetrators and persons responsible for the impersonation of city officials/employees and who proliferate these false communications are now under investigation for possible violation of Art. 315 (2) (a) of the Revised Penal Code. We will not allow these unscrupulous people to prey upon our innocent QCitizens especially during this time of the pandemic. They will be prosecuted and put in jail the soonest possible time," Casimiro said. Under the law, "the element of deceit consisting of the false pretense or representation must be proven beyond reasonable doubt". (PNA) }