AGENTS of the Philippine National Police-Anti-Cybercrime Group arrested an alleged GCash scammer in an entrapment operation in Cavite.
Suspect Hilda Borja, 23, was nabbed in a sting in Dasmarinas City, Cavite.
Members of the ACG-Cyber Financial Crime Unit conducted the operation following a complaint from a member of the PNP-Special Action Force who was victimized by a fake online seller of jewelry on Facebook.
SAF trooper John Paul Pitahin said he initially paid P28,500 to “Timikko Santos” in exchange for a gold bracelet being offered for sale by the latter. However, the seller failed to deliver the bracelet despite the money sent by the cop to the GCash account number Santos gave him.
When the victim followed up his purchase with Santos, the latter told him there was an error in the deliveries, claiming the package meant for him was delivered to another person. The suspect then offered a better deal for a minimal additional payment.
The unsuspecting policeman sent another P14,300 to the same GCash account number given by “Santos,” bringing to a total of P42,800 the actual amount of money he already paid to the suspect.
When the suspect again failed to deliver the package and offered the same alibi, the PNP-SAF personnel reported the matter to the PNP-ACG that launched the sting.
Hilda was arrested when she withdrew the money from the remittance center in Dasmariñas City.
The suspect denied involvement in the scam and claimed she only tried to verify the GCash account number of Santos in the area.
The PNP-ACG called anew on the public to avoid selling their own verified GCash accounts as these can be used by scammers.
The two suspects are facing charges for using fictitious name and concealing true name and swindling/estafa under the Revised Penal Code in relation to Republic Act 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012..
