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Maritess Gutierrez. Photo by Ganiel Krishnan, ABS-CBN News

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Gloria Romero kin calls out fake online article linking her to investment scam

Ganiel Krishnan

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1768218420930666cad84-6274-4337-87de-c439d17a861d.jfif" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/>Maritess Gutierrez. Photo by Ganiel Krishnan, ABS-CBN News</div>Maritess Gutierrez has spoken out against a fake online article that falsely claimed she would receive billions of pesos from an alleged investment platform supposedly left behind by her late mother, screen icon Gloria Romero.In an interview, Gutierrez described the circulating article as “disturbing” and “nakakapikon,” saying she could not understand why her mother’s name continued to be dragged into online scams. According to her, the fake report appeared to pose as a legitimate ABS-CBN News website and was first brought to her attention by a friend one Sunday morning. “A friend of mine sent me that link. I read it briefly. Again sinali na naman whoever this person is or is it just I don&#x27;t know what this people want. Sinali na naman name ng mama ko. I cannot understand why, for what?” she said.Gutierrez recalled briefly reading the article and immediately feeling upset that her mother’s name had once again been used without consent. The fabricated report claimed that she would allegedly receive P7.2 billion from an investment platform, supposedly sourced from her mother’s money, an assertion she strongly denied.She added that this was not the first time her mother’s name had been exploited by scammers. Even before Romero’s wake, similar fake stories had surfaced online, falsely labeling Gutierrez as a billionaire or even a trillionaire.Beyond frustration, Gutierrez admitted that the fake news has caused fear and anxiety for her family, particularly over safety concerns. She shared that her son sometimes commutes to work via public transportation, making the spread of such misinformation even more alarming. While she tries to laugh it off in public, she stressed that the situation is deeply disturbing. “For my safety and Chris because my son sometimes commutes, he rides the LRT to work to avoid the traffic. Tumatawa tawa lang ako dito because I don&#x27;t want to show my true emotions on TV but it is really disturbing.”With the first death anniversary of Romero approaching on January 25, Gutierrez said she felt especially dismayed that the false reports resurfaced during such a sensitive time. She expressed sadness that her mother’s memory was being disturbed, adding that she believes her mother would not want to see her burdened by these issues.In response to the circulating fake article, ABS-CBN News immediately released a disinformation notice, clarifying that the report did not originate from its official platforms. The fraudulent website involved has since been flagged.<div> </div><div>Warning</div>Meanwhile, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) has reiterated its warning to the public amid the rising number of online scams and fake news. Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center acting executive director Aboy Paraiso urged the public not to immediately believe content seen on social media feeds, especially those promising absurdly high returns in a short period of time. “First and foremost the first red flag if you see it in your feeds don’t immediately believe it they’ll lure you in with absurd amounts, 60% returns or 100% returns in 2 or 3 months which doesn’t really happen. So if you see this on the feeds don’t immediately believe it and don&#x27;t click on these pages because they take you to the scam website where there’s a phishing website where they could get your vital information or even worse this could be a gateway to financial scams,” Paraiso said.Authorities also reminded the public to practice vigilance online. Tips to avoid fake websites and scams include checking the website’s URL, looking for security certificates, reviewing the “About” page and contact details, examining spelling and grammar, avoiding suspicious links and pop-ups, and verifying whether a company is registered or accredited by the government.Officials stressed that heightened awareness and careful fact-checking remain key in protecting oneself from online fraud and disinformation.

Maritess Gutierrez has spoken out against a fake online article that falsely claimed she would receive billions of pesos from an alleged investment platform supposedly left behind by her late mother, screen icon Gloria Romero.

Maritess Gutierrez has spoken out against a fake online article that falsely claimed she would receive billions of pesos from an alleged investment platform supposedly left behind by her late mother, screen icon Gloria Romero.

Gloria Romero's daughter calls out fake online article linking her to investment scam

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Gloria Romero's daughter calls out fake online article linking her to investment scam

Ganiel Krishnan,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jan 12, 2026 08:12 PM PHT

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Updated Jan 13, 2026 07:23 AM PHT

Read More:

Maritess Gutierrez

Gloria Romero

misinformation

DICT

online scam

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