DOH alerts public to scammers impersonating Health Secretary Mercado

The Department of Health cautioned the public on Tuesday against individuals fraudulently impersonating Health Secretary Edwin Mercado and requesting donations or engaging in unauthorized financial transactions.

"The DOH wants to clarify that any messages or calls for donations or transactions using the name of the Secretary are not official and false," the agency said in a statement. "These communications do not represent the department or its leadership."

The warning comes amid growing concerns over scam operations targeting Filipinos through impersonation schemes. The DOH emphasized that citizens should be wary of unsolicited donation requests or money transfers claiming to be associated with senior government officials or health department initiatives.

Members of the public who encounter such fraudulent communications are advised to report the incidents to the appropriate authorities. The DOH urged Filipinos to verify the authenticity of any solicitations by contacting the department directly through official channels before responding to such requests.