UNIDENTIFIED individuals falsely representing themselves as employees of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) provincial office have been approaching and calling traders, soliciting sponsorships for alleged agency events, and seeking advertisements of supposed DTI projects.

Natalia Dalaten, the DTI provincial director, disclosed that she received two reports, the most recent was Saturday about alleged DTI personnel soliciting P5,000 worth of sponsorships or advertisements.

Speaking during the “Pantongtongan Tayo” program of DTI, Dalaten vehemently denied that her office authorized anyone to solicit donations and urged all businessmen to report to her office and police if soliciting individuals cannot show identification cards and written mission orders to conduct such activities.

Dalaten clarified, “We do not have a program that involves soliciting sponsorships or obtaining ads for any DTI program.”

She said modus of the impostors is  to visit business establishments on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays when DTI offices are closed as she pointed out that when DTI personnel are on a mission, they carry identification cards and valid mission orders duly signed by her, clearly stating the purpose of their field activities.

Dalaten sought the assistance of the police, particularly the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, in apprehending the culprits.

During the same program, P/Capt. Renan de la Cruz, information officer of the Pangasinan Police Provincial Office, highlighted the prevalence of scammers in recent times. He recounted an incident where a group distributed forms, sold tickets, and solicited donations for supposed charitable causes that turned out to be non-existent.

He also mentioned a group that calls itself  “Bangon Muli,” whose fake documents feature a picture of Gov. Ramon Guico III. This particular scam is currently under investigation. (Leonardo Micua)

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