Senator Richard Gordon on Wednesday called on Social Security System (SSS) members and their employers to be wary of scammers amid the recent rise in the number of fraudulent transactions, especially during the pandemic.

“We call on SSS members and employers not to divulge personal information such as their social security number, date of birth, and the like to people claiming as SSS employees,” said Gordon, who chairs the Senate Committee on Government Corporations and Public Enterprises.

“Online thieves will just use your information to dupe and steal your hard-earned money. You wouldn’t want to lose your pension that you could use in the future,” warned Gordon, who is seeking re-election in the upcoming May 2022 elections.

Recently, numerous incidents of fraud and theft from bank account shareholders were reported last December 2021. Many of the complainants were lured from a fraudulent e-mail that looked legitimate in a process also known as “phishing.”

The SSS has also warned the public against joining social media groups that claim to help clients in various online transactions for a nominal fee, despite these services being available for free.

Gordon, a strong ally of the SSS, said its members should refrain from patronizing such illegal activities, for fixers are not responsible for any hitches that may come up later during the transactions.

“Considering there is a pandemic right now, we should be more patient in the processing of our papers. Going to fixers is never the answer because you are condoning illegal activities,” the senator pointed out.

“Bureaucratic red tape was reduced thanks to the Anti-Red Tape Act, and we call on the SSS to continue providing efficient service so that people will not resort to drastic measures such as fixers,” he stressed.