DAVAO CITY – A 68-year-old senior citizen is urging the public to be vigilant after allegedly falling victim to a scam perpetrated by a man who introduced himself as a vlogger and promised him gifts before fleeing with his personal belongings.
Teodolo Gonzaga Taguran sought assistance from Bombo Radyo Davao to share his ordeal, which he said occurred on July 4, 2026, in what he described as a carefully orchestrated deception.
According to Taguran, he was walking in the vicinity of Doña Pilar, Davao City, when a man driving a black Toyota Fortuner approached him and introduced himself as a vlogger. The suspect allegedly offered him a brand-new cellphone, cash assistance, and even a free ride to his residence in Sto. Domingo 2, Pampanga, Davao City.
Believing the man’s promises and reassured by his friendly demeanor, Taguran accepted the offer and boarded the vehicle.
During the trip, the suspect reportedly engaged the senior citizen in conversation and handed him what was presented as a brand-new mobile phone. Taguran said he was delighted and believed the man genuinely intended to help him.
However, the situation took a dramatic turn when they stopped at a gasoline station in Sasa.
The suspect allegedly told Taguran that he needed to use the restroom. Taguran also got out of the vehicle to use the comfort room. When he returned moments later, both the suspect and the black SUV had already disappeared.
Left behind was the realization that all of his belongings had vanished with the vehicle.
Among the items reportedly stolen were ₱2,500 in cash, his personal cellphone, groceries worth approximately ₱3,000, his Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) Yellow Card, and several important identification cards, including his PhilHealth ID, SSS ID, Senior Citizen ID, Pag-IBIG ID, Voter’s ID, and National ID.
It was only after Taguran reported the incident to the Sasa Police Station (Police Station 4) that he discovered the cellphone given to him by the suspect was already defective, reinforcing his belief that he had been deliberately deceived.
Authorities have documented the incident and have launched an investigation to identify and locate the suspect.
Police have yet to release additional information regarding the identity of the man or whether similar incidents have been reported in the area.
Meanwhile, Taguran appealed to the public to remain cautious when dealing with strangers, regardless of how convincing or generous they may appear.
He expressed hope that the suspect would soon be arrested to prevent more innocent individuals—particularly senior citizens—from becoming victims of the same alleged modus operandi.
The incident serves as another reminder for the public to exercise caution when approached by unknown individuals offering unsolicited gifts, financial assistance, or transportation, as scammers continue to exploit trust and goodwill to victimize unsuspecting residents.