By Aaron Recuenco

The architects of the pyramiding scams have trained their eyes on Mindanao and some parts of the Visayas as hotbed of their investment schemes operations in the past few years, the Philippine National Police (PNP) noted.

The reason, according to PNP chief Gen. Oscar Albayalde, is that operators of pyramiding scams have already noted a significant decrease of the number of people that they can lure in Luzon.

“If you would observe, these schemes are no longer popular in Metro Manila, Regions 3 and 4 and in other parts of Luzon. The reason is that most of the people here in Luzon are already aware of this modus,” said Albayalde.

“This is the reason they shifted their operations in Mindanao and some parts of the Visayas. Doon kase, hindi pa masyadong sunog ang ganyang schemes,” he stressed.

Albayalde made the statement came after President Duterte had ordered authorities to run after the Kapa Ministry which he accused of engaging in pyramiding scheme.

The founder of the Kapa Ministry and his wife, who allegedly both works on the promise of at least 30 percent monthly interest of what their members would donate to the group, are now in hiding.

Since February this year, the PNP leadership also uncovered several pyramiding schemes involving policemen.

In March this year, at least three middle-ranking officials of the PNP assigned in Mindanao were sacked from their posts and eventually charged for the alleged P2 billion worth investment scam.

Hundreds of policemen, based on the report of the Central Mindanao regional police, also lost millions of money to investment scams.

“The problem with these people (police officials) is that they even used the police regional office for their operation. They even put up fast lanes for police and military investors,” said Albayalde.

All the policemen involved, according to Albayalde, are currently under their custody.

The Chief PNP explained that the brains behind the investment scams are capitalizing both on the greed and the desperation of their investors to earn more money.

And with a little background on previous modus operandi uncovered and police operations conducted by the police against investment scammers in Metro Manila and other parts of Luzon, some of the residents of Mindanao and the Visayas are easily lured into putting their to the investment scammers.

“Kaya nga possibly nung pumutok dito sa Luzon e baka hindi pa masyadong na-disseminate in some parts of Mindanao,” said Albayalde.

The rising number of investment scam victims, especially in Central Mindanao, has prompted the regional police to issue warnings and tips against investment scams.

Tips vs investment scams

Among the tips against investment scams issued by the PNP Region 12 under Brig. Gen. Eliseo Rasco are:

1. Take time to check that the investment opportunities offered to you are legitimate before you hand over any money. Don’t be persuaded by the high-yield “guaranteed returns” that these scams promote.

2. Be suspicious of these “investment offers.” Even if someone you know or trust makes the offer, check it out first. Don’t rush to invest. Ask questions and get answers that you can verify, either with the police or with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

3. If you suspect that you’re dealing with scammers or if you have already been victimized, file a complaint with PRO 12, the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), or the National Bureau of Investigation.