NBI nabs 2 alleged scammers in Pasay

GMA Network

3 days ago

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Wednesday announced the arrest of two individuals for large scale estafa in Pasay City.
According to the NBI, one of the subjects introduced himself as the nephew and agent of a 'Mr. Kumar,' an alleged owner of a lending company, to the complainant, claiming that he could process and secure the approval of a cash loan amounting to P20 million in exchange for a facilitation fee.
As a facilitation fee, the complainant said she gave one of the suspects a Hermes Birkin 35 Raisin Clemence and gold hardware worth an estimated P500,000. She also later gave him luxury bags, jewelry, and other items amounting to P11.8 million.
However, the complainant was informed by a friend that Mr. Kumar does not own a lending company. She was later able to reach out to the real Mr. Kumar, who told her that he was not the person she transacted with.
When the subject demanded another P42,000 from the complainant for the release of her loan, she filed a complaint before the NBI and requested an entrapment operation.
On May 27, the NBI conducted the entrapment operation against the subject, leading to his arrest.
During the booking procedures, a certain individual called the subject's phone and demanded his share of the facilitation fee. The NBI then conducted a hot pursuit operation, leading to the arrest of the second individual.
The two underwent inquest proceedings before Pasay City prosecutors for Large-Scale Estafa under Article 315, paragraph 2(a) of the Revised Penal Code.
The NBI said their arrest is also related to Section 6 of Republic Act No. 10175 (Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012) and computer-related identity theft under Section 4(b) (3) of Republic Act No. 10175. —Joahna Lei Casilao/RF, GMA Integrated News