MANILA, Philippines – Independent senatorial candidate and former state audit commissioner Heidi Mendoza has sounded alarm bells over a fraudulent Facebook page mimicking her identity to scam supporters.
“Beware! Somebody is trying to pull a fast one by using my profile pic and asking for donations. The bogus account is soliciting money supposedly for printing costs (of campaign materials). If you receive a friend request, please report the account,” warned the former Commission on Audit official.
Mendoza posted a screenshot on her official account, showing how the fake page contacted one of her backers, soliciting funds for what it claimed was the “printing of tarps and flyers.”
The bogus account was marked as “Locked,” blocking public access, and was linked to a male user – both glaring red flags.
Unlike the impostor’s account, Mendoza said her real Facebook page is fully accessible to the public. She said she relies on it to connect with voters, which is important for her given her shoestring campaign budget and lack of political machinery.
“Do you have any idea how hard it is to campaign as an independent? I am running without help from anyone or any party, but I remain convinced in my heart that I have the people’s support,” she said.
Her supporters, she said, have set up a Gmail address for legitimate campaign-related transactions, particularly for the printing of flyers.
“I have only one account. It is public. Please do not accept any Friend Request using my photo but with locked profile. I will not request for money transfers, borrow, or ask for donations via messages,” she said. – Rappler.com