CARMONA CITY, Cavite – The Cavite police have investigated an alleged modus operandi in automated teller machine (ATM) transactions that has gone viral.
A Facebook post by a mall-goer in Carmona last March 27 said a woman approached her, asking for assistance with her ATM transaction.
The individual who shared the post mentioned that she was informed by her nephew, a police officer in Dasmariñas City, about a scam involving a senior citizen pretending to need ATM assistance. Once a victim agrees to help the senior citizen and holds their ATM card, the latter's accomplices show up to make a scene, harass the victim, and subsequently demand money for settlement.
Cautious about the situation, the mall-goer chose not to help the lady personally and instead directed her to the mall’s security personnel.
Upon learning about the report, Carmona Police personnel coordinated with the management of the mall and backtracked the CCTV footage of the incident.
Screenshot of CCTV footage from the mall, backtracked by Carmona Police (Photo from Carmona Municipal Police Station/MANILA BULLETIN)
During their investigation, however, they found that the senior citizen indeed only needed help because she left her eyeglasses.
“There's no attempt to swindle anyone,” Carmona Municipal Police Station Chief Lt. Col. Jefferson P. Ison told Manila Bulletin in a Viber message.
“She approached two persons, and the second person was the one who posted the viral FB post, who has been cautious as she was previously victimized by 'salisi,' 'laglag-barya.' She politely told the old lady to ask help from the security guard.”
Despite the incident being an innocent case, the police stated that the viral post serves as a timely reminder for people not to let their guard down.
“We appreciate the viral post as it shows the proper way to act in this kind of situation. The one who posted did not, in any way, want to cause alarm, but a reminder that our safety is always our own responsibility,” the Carmona Police stated in a press release.
Regarding the modus operandi, Ison said they have encountered two similar incidents in the past and have arrested two personalities involved.