PPOC Requests CPNP Police Training on Credit Card Fraud

(PIA-7 Bohol) – Admitting they lack the capability to fight credit card scams, Bohol Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) has requested police top authorities to capacitate local police in handling incidents or cases of credit card fraud.

In its meeting last month, Bohol Chamber of Commerce and Industry asked the local police leadership for tips on how to handle credit card scams, which may have already victimized high end resorts in Panglao.

Former banker and now resort manager Marietta Gasatan earlier asked the local police on what to do when they could tell that somebody is using a bogus credit card.

In her experience, customers pre book a room in the resort, arrives and then stays, swiping cards in payment of bills and then leaves before the resort point of sale machine could communicate with the bank about the veracity of the card usage.

Processing the credit card transaction takes time, Gasatan told members of the PPOC in a meeting at the Governor’s Mansion Conference Hall.

Before the bank could tell that there was illegal usage, the customer has checked out leaving behind unsettled accounts.

Police Superintendent Jeffrey Caballes admitted that local Bohol police has no formal training on how to address credit card fraud.

PPOC moved to request the Philippine National Police through OIC Director General Leonardo Espina to capacitate Bohol PNP personnel in handling incidents or cases of credit card fraud.

In the meantime, PSSUpt Dennis Agustin suggested an information drive in the form of a video presentation to be spread via the social network.

The information would be about the precautionary measures that the public should be aware and adopt. (rac/PIA-7/Bohol)