RCPS chief Lt. Col. Francisco Paguia, in a local radio interview, stressed that the online world has also given opportunities for lawbreakers to victimize unsuspecting netizens.

Based on data, at least 58 of the 59 cybercrime complaints recorded in the province last year are from the city, a shoot-up from the 22 incidents in 2022.

Most of the recorded complaints are identity theft or the illegal acquisition and use of a person’s private identifying information for financial gain.

“Some of our complainants are discouraged to pursue their charges even as the problem lodged to our station is consistently referred to our Police Regional Office in Iloilo City,” he noted, adding that a time will come when RCPS will soon have experts to handle cybercrime cases.

The city’s top cop also reminded the public to preferably transact face-to-face and request the other party in an online transaction to a video chat, if possible, to reveal his or her identity.