Two Cameroonian nationals involved in the "black money" scam that uses fake money to victimize people were nabbed by operatives of the Cainta Rizal Police on Wednesday, Dec. 13, the Rizal Police Provincial Office (Rizal PPO) said on Thursday, Dec. 14.

Black money scam suspects

Cainta Police Chief P/Lt. Col. Mark Anthony Aningalan said the two suspects were arrested in Barangay Isidro after their victim, who they coerced into releasing money to buy a chemical compound to be used in "cleaning" US dollar bills, reported them to the police saying that he will receive a 15 percent commission from the job.

According to Aningalan, the victim was surprised when the suspects demonstrated the use of a makeshift steaming machine to produce fake money, prompting him to seek help from the police.

"Ang modus operandi na ito ay kinukuha nila ang loob ng biktima, matagal na process, it could take months… tapos i-invite na mag-invest sa kanila at masabi ng suspect na mayroon silang stained dollar o tinatawag na "black money" na hinuhugasan ng isang chemical compound na makukuha sa local notes natin (The modus operandi of these criminals is that they will persuade their victim, which is a long process and could take months, to invest in their criminal activity saying they have stained dollar bills or "black money" that they "wash" using a chemical compound that can be found in our local banknotes)," he added.

The police chief said they have recovered P1 million worth of fake banknotes from the suspects and a large backpack containing a styrofoam box with a wire covered in duct tape which is being used as the steaming machine for the forgery of the banknotes.

The police explained that the suspects place the fake money inside the styrofoam box filled with cotton to wash away the chemical found in real money with the goal of changing real money into fake ones. Authorities said this is not possible as the chemical inside a real banknote cannot be washed away.

Aningalan urged the public to be vigilant and to not allow themselves to be duped by this modus operandi

“Iwasan natin ang promises sa hindi natin kilalang tao. This is too good to be true (Please do not believe in promises made by people you don't know. This is too good to be true )," he said.

Aningalan said the suspects are now facing charges for swindling and violation of Article 168 of the Revised Penal Code for illegal possession and use of false treasury or bank notes.