Bacolod Mayor orders crackdown on impersonation scam

Bacolod City Mayor Greg Gasataya has ordered a police crackdown following an impersonation scam that targeted a local business owner and a working student. The incident occurred at a convenience store on Rizal Street, where an unidentified caller allegedly posed as the mayor to deceive victims into transferring funds.

The suspect reportedly claimed to be booking hotel rooms for official guests and requested assistance locating an e-wallet facility, citing temporary issues with personal bank accounts. The caller then pressured a cashier—a student employed for only two weeks—into processing two e-wallet transactions totaling PHP 9,900 under the promise of immediate reimbursement.

Victims noted that the caller’s voice sounded identical to the mayor’s, leading to concerns regarding the potential use of artificial intelligence voice-cloning technology. Gasataya has directed the Bacolod City Police Office to conduct an immediate investigation. This follows a similar reported incident in September where a caller impersonated the mayor to solicit funds from a local restaurant.