CEBU CITY – A 26-year-old woman was arrested after she was allegedly caught selling falsified tax identification (TIN) cards in Barangay Bulacao here Tuesday, July 12.
Lordelyn Caballero was cornered in an entrapment operation conducted by agents of the National Bureau of Investigation-Central Visayas (NBI 7).
In a press briefing Thursday, July 14, NBI 7 Director Renan Oliva said the operation stemmed from reports that fake Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) TIN card are being sold online.
Oliva recalled that in 2020, an official of the BIR in Region 13 wrote the NBI 7 that there were fake BIR TIN cards being sold through social media platforms.
The person involved in the 2020 case was arrested and eventually convicted for violation of the National Revenue Code, Oliva said.
Oliva said similar activities resurfaced that prompted them to conduct an investigation.
Oliva said the investigation led them to Caballero.
Caballero was arrested after she handed four falsified TIN cards to an NBI 7 agent who posed as buyer.
Oliva said the fake TIN cards was sold for P120 to P150 each.
Also seized from the suspect’s possession were 82 fake TIN cards and PhilHealth cards.
Investigation showed that the woman owns a printing shop.
“She also maintains a Facebook account where government ID cards are being offered for sale,” said Oliva.
The woman will be charged for violating the national tax code and Revised Penal Code, all in relation to the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.