DoJ investigating fake email using secretary’s name
THE DEPARTMENT of Justice’s (DoJ) cybercrime office will investigate the fake email address used by someone posing as Justice Secretary Menardo I. Guevarra to solicit gift cards allegedly for donation to hospitalized patients across the Philippines.
“The DoJ Office of Cybercrime is on it (and) if necessary, I’ll seek help from the NBI (National Bureau of Investigation),” Mr. Guevarra told reporters via a group message on Viber on Sunday.
In an advisory posted on its website on Saturday, the justice department warned the public against the fake email address, osecmig1@gmail.com.
“The said email address was used to send messages to a number of recipients requesting assistance in the alleged procurement of iTunes gift cards as donations to patients at hospice care units across the Philippines, subject to reimbursement,” the advisory read.
The DoJ said Mr. Guevarra’s only Gmail email address is osecmig@gmail.com, while his only government email address is osec@doj.gov.ph.
The Justice department further warned the public who will receive emails from the fake address to not click any link or provide personal information, and report the email as spam or fraudulent, and to block the sender.
Under Republic Act 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012, actions with fraudulent intent are punishable with imprisonment of six years and one day to 12 years, or a fine of at least P200,000 and/or the amount of damage incurred by the act, or both. — Bianca Angelica D. Añago
