BEWARE OF ILLEGAL BANKING OPERATIONS

Certain individuals or groups have been misrepresenting themselves as bank employees operating in Region I, II, III and IV-A.

“These parties either directly solicit deposits from the public or offer jobs as bank collectors. Apparently, recruited collectors are instructed to solicit deposits from the public, particularly from students and street vendors and are offered monthly salary plus commission based on the amount of deposit collections,” Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said in a statement.

In connection with this, Mayor James Gordon, Jr. instructed all local officials to help raise public awareness on the said illegal activity.

“I am directing the Public Affairs Office (PAO) to lead the information dissemination to raise public awareness on these illegal transactions,” said Mayor Gordon, “upang hindi mabiktima ang mga taga-Olongapo.”

BSP has advised the public to be careful and to immediately report cases of suspicious activities and to always transact business with known bank employees. Also, keep your proof of deposits such as passbook, copies of slip and certificate of time deposit in safe place, BSP said.

Suspicious activities may be reported to the Olongapo City Police Office (OCPO) at 222-5731 or to the Deputy Director Head, Financial Consumer Affairs Group, Supervision and Examination Sector of Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, A. Mabini St. Malate Manila at tel no. 02-524-7011 local 2584.