THE SECURITIES and Exchange Commission (SEC) warned the public not to give out personal information on Facebook in connection with campaigns to initiate petitions against lending companies.
鈥淭he (SEC) has received information that certain Facebook pages have been soliciting personal information from the public through the use of Google Forms for purposes of allegedly filing a petition to the SEC, the shutdown of so-called illegal lending companies, and other similar motives,鈥 the regulator said in an advisory.
It reminded the public to be vigilant with personal information shared聽online, noting: 鈥渢his is not the proper way of filing a complaint with the commission.鈥澛犅
A complaint form may be downloaded from the regulator鈥檚 website for SEC-registered firms.聽According to its website,聽only authorized lending or financing companies may become respondents to聽complaints.
鈥淚n order for the SEC to further investigate possible violations of the relevant laws, rules, and regulations committed by erring financing and lending companies, complainants should file a formal complaint directly to the SEC,鈥 the commission said.
Concerns involving lending and financing companies may also be forwarded to the commission鈥檚聽Corporate Governance and Finance Department.
Meanwhile, complaints or reports of companies engaging in lending activities without certificates of authority may be sent聽via e-mail聽to the SEC鈥檚聽Enforcement and Investor Protection Department.聽鈥 Keren Concepcion G. Valmonte
