The Muntinlupa City government warned the public against a syndicate that asks for money after several companies including a hotel were victimized.

It said the syndicate, using the name of Mayor Aldrin San Pedro and the city government, started operating this Christmas season.

Mayor San Pedro said under the modus operandi of the syndicate, a caller phones a company and pretends that it’s him. The caller, using the mayor’s name, would ask the company for financial donation and request that the money be sent to a bogus Western Union account.

“I am warning companies not to fall prey to this evil scheme. The syndicate is using my name and the city government to victimize companies in Muntinlupa,” the mayor said.

The advisory came after several companies called the city government to verify. They said they got a call from someone who pretended that he was the mayor and asked for financial donation.

The companies told the city government that the caller asked for money purportedly for the hospitalization of patients.

A few companies including a well-known hotel and a car dealer fell prey to the scheme and deposited money to the fake Western Union account.

Mayor San Pedro immediately launched an investigation and ordered authorities to arrest the members of the syndicate.

“I want them jailed immediately. We will not let them victimize more companies,” he said.