Comedienne-host Pokwang has sought the help of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) after scammers used her Antipolo home’s location for a fraudulent staycation resort listing.
On GMA News’ “24 Oras” Monday episode, Pokwang revealed that multiple individuals have knocked on her door, believing they had booked a legitimate staycation at what was advertised as “Sunnyside Resort” on Facebook. The victims, who paid the scammers in advance, later discovered that the resort did not exist.
“Magaganda yung mga pino-post doon sa account niya… Ikaw naman ma-e-enganyo ka talaga. Pero wala talagang ganoong resort,” Pokwang stated, expressing her frustration over the scam.
According to Pokwang, she has been dealing with an increasing number of victims arriving at her property since December. Three to five victims per day have come to her home, seeking the accommodation they had paid for, only to realize they had been deceived.
The actress, fearing for her family’s safety, has put up a notice outside her gate to clarify that her home is private property. She also vowed to take legal action against the scammers.
“Natatakot ako para sa family ko. Nilagay mo sa risk yung buhay ng pamilya ko. Hindi kita titigilan. Kakasuhan ko siya,” declared Pokwang.
Meanwhile, the NBI has urged the public to be cautious when booking accommodations online, advising them to use only legitimate platforms to avoid being scammed.
“Kailangan mag-book sila sa regulated platforms natin. Since they are regulated… nakakasiguro tayo na mabo-book natin,” said NBI Cybercrime Division Executive Officer Vanessa Asuncion, as quoted in a GMA Intergrated News report.
The officer also recommended conducting an ocular inspection and ensuring that the property is legally listed by its rightful owner before making any payments.
Authorities are currently investigating the scam and tracking down those responsible.
