CEBU CITY – Charges were filed against a woman for allegedly manufacturing and selling falsified Tax Identification Number (TIN) cards.

NATIONAL Bureau of Investigation-Central Visayas Regional Director Renan Oliva (left) shows the mug shots of a woman who was arrested for allegedly selling falsified tax identification cards. (Contributed photo)
The National Bureau of Investigation-Central Visayas (NBI-7) on Wednesday, July 17, filed charges against Geraldine Lomongo Tausa for violation of Republic Act (RA) 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 and RA 8484 or the Access Devices Regulation Act of 1998.
In a press briefing on Thursday, July 18, NBI-7 Regional Director Renan Oliva narrated that the Bureau of Internal Revenue District Office in Talisay City, Cebu requested the NBI on April 17 to investigate the proliferation of falsified BIR TIN cards.
During the course of the investigation, the NBI-7 discovered that unauthorized selling of TIN cards was being conducted on Facebook.
The creator of the fake TIN cards had resellers who sold the cards for P180 each. Payments were made through a popular e-wallet while the cards were delivered by delivery drivers.
Tausa was arrested in her house in Talisay on July 15 after undercover NBI agents were able to transact with resellers.
Among the items seized during the raid were a laptop, printer, laminator, and cutter used to use falsify TIN cards.
Oliva said a syndicate was behind the illegal activity, the reason why it took them more than three months before the NBI-7 was able to trace the whereabouts of the suspect.
Follow-up investigation will be made to identify other individuals selling fake TIN cards.