A church official in the Archdiocese of Manila warned the faithful against a scam that uses the name of priests to solicit money from people.
On Tuesday, July 28, church officials learned that a letter was sent to a hospital in Lipa City, Batangas province, asking for financial assistance for COVID-19 testing for the staff of the Manila Cathedral.
The letter was supposedly signed by Fathers Reginald Malicdem and Kali llamado.
“This is a fake letter and our signatures are also fake,” read the announcement from the priests.
“There is also a cellphone number being used to text people presenting himself as Father Kali and asking for donations. Again, this number is fake and is a scam,” it added.
It also informed the public that the email address arzobispadodemanila@gmail.com
and the cellphone number 0966-5338843 that the scammer used are fake.
“Please beware of this kind of letters or requests for financial assistance,” said the Manila Cathedral in the announcement.
In 2018, Father Malicdem also warned fellow priests against the “modus” of an individual who targeted parishes.
Father Malicdem, rector of the Manila Cathedral, said the individual who introduces himself as a bishop would often ask his victims to refer him to a caterer supposedly for an event he is organizing.
He said the person would then ask for cellphone load.
