Manila: The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has issued a warning to the public about fraudulent e-mails that falsely claim to be from the election body.

According to Philippines News Agency, Comelec released a public advisory urging individuals to be wary of e-mails, especially those from the address [email protected] and from individuals posing as Comelec staff. Comelec emphasized the importance of being cautious and vigilant when dealing with e-mails that appear to be from the Commission on Elections and request personal or sensitive information.

The advisory clarified that no department within Comelec operates under the name Stakeholder Relations Division, and Atty. Maria Carmela B. Gonzales is neither a director nor an employee of Comelec. It further noted that official Comelec e-mail addresses always use the @comelec.gov.ph domain name.

Comelec urged the public not to trust any e-mail that does not come from this official domain name. The advisory also warned against clicking links in suspicious e-mails, as they could be phishing scams aimed at stealing and misusing personal information. The public was advised to keep their personal and sensitive information secure.

To ensure secure communication, Comelec recommended that individuals contact them through the official e-mail provided in the "Contact Us" section of their website, www.comelec.gov.ph, or by visiting their offices.