MANGALDAN, Pangasinan – Authorities from Pampanga arrested two women for computer-related identity theft and swindle/estafa here on Tuesday, Nov. 15.
Col. Fidel Fortaleza, Chief of Regional Anti-Cybercrime Unit 3 (RACU 3), identified the suspects as Jessica Garcia and her cohort, Queen Elizabeth Paragas, who were arrested at ZM Store inside Mangaldan Public Market in Brgy. Poblacion in this town.
The two suspects were arrested for their alleged violations of Sec 4(b) (3) computer related identity theft and Art 315 (Swindling/Estafa) both in relation to Sec 6 of RA 10175 (Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012).
Col. Fortaleza reported to the Philippine National Police ACG that Garcia mimicked the Facebook account of an Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) in Saudi Arabia to defraud her victims.
Based on the report, suspect Jessica mimicked the account of Jesus Garcia (complainant 1) to defraud the latter’s relatives from whom she requested financial assistance.
Garcia, the complainant, revealed to the authorities that he received a message from another cousin also living in Saudi Arabia.
According to him, his cousin inquired if he created a second Facebook account with the profile name ‘Jess Garcia’ using an old photo who was allegedly soliciting money from relatives.
Garcia denied creating a second FB account and that he feared his other relatives may have been victimized by the scammer.
Garcia’s cousin, Francis Buan, has also come out after falling prey to the scammer.
Buan said he has sent P8000 through the suspect’s GCash account on Nov. 10.
Buan said that as the suspect asked for more money and upon learning that the Facebook account using ‘Jess Garcia’ was a hoax, he immediately lodged a complaint at the office of RACU 3.
The complaint led to the arrest of the two suspects.
The suspects are now facing criminal charges for violations of Sec 4(b) (3) Computer Related Identity Theft and Art 315 (Swindling/Estafa) both in relation to Sec 6 of RA 10175 (Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012). Both of them are now under the custody of RACU 3 for inquest proceedings.
"As Christmas is fast approaching, ACG once again reminds everyone to always be vigilant, especially in making online transactions. Scammers will use all sorts of schemes to rob you of your money,” said BGen. Joel Doria, director of Anti-Crime Cyber Group.