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Public warned against bogus online sellers

Philippines | Luzon

Public warned against bogus online sellers

By Philippine News Agency

BUTUAN CITY (PNA) – The chief of the Police Regional Office in Caraga Region (PRO-13) is warning the public against bogus online sellers, especially amid the spike of digital business transactions following the community quarantine to contain the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

(Photo courtesy of PRO-13 Information Office/ Via PNA/ MANILA BULLETIN)

Brig. Gen. Joselito T. Esquivel, Jr. issued the call in a press statement Friday, August 7, following the arrest of a bogus online seller here on Thursday.

“We must take extra precautions in our online transactions for us not to be victimized by the online scams and bogus sellers,” Esquivel said, even as he called on the public to immediately report to the police suspicious groups or individuals engaged in online selling.

The Regional Anti-Cybercrime Unit in the region (RACU-13) arrested on Thursday a 23-year-old bogus online seller during an entrapment operation conducted in Barangay Ampayon here.

Esquivel identified the suspect as Rogelio T. Guirit who was accused by Rocky N. Pia of running away with his advance payment for a cellphone unit that was not delivered.

During his arrest, authorities seized a cellular phone, assorted identification cards with different addresses, assorted remittance receipts, P400 cash, and a black wallet.

During the investigation, the suspect claimed that his supplier was based in Manila, while the ordered items will be shipped once the buyer gives a 50-percent advance payment through a remittance center.

Esquivel said Guirit was temporarily detained while a case for swindling in relation to Republic Act 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 is being prepared against him.

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