2 suspected scammers arrested in Pasay City -- NBI
Two suspected scammers, who reportedly duped a woman into handing over to them her valuables worth P500,000, have been arrested by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in Pasay City.
The NBI identified the suspects as Maverick Das Punjabi and Jazpher Macaraig Rayos who were arrested last Tuesday, May 27, by operatives of the NBI National Capital Region (NBI-NCR).
After their arrest, the suspects were charged before the Pasay City Prosecutor’s Office with large-scale estafa in violation of Article 315, paragraph 2(a) of the Revised Penal Code (RPC) in relation to Section 6 of Republic Act (RA) No. 10175, the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012; and for computer-related identity theft under Section 4(b) (3) of RA 10175.
“Also charged in connection with the case are a certain Marco de Guzman and an individual known as Voltaire, both of whom are currently at large,” the NBI also said.
Also in its press statement, the NBI said the operation against the suspected scammers was based on the complaint of Filipino Indian Commerce and Welfare Society, Inc. (FICWSI) President Majinder "James" Kumar and a female victim whose identity has been withheld.
It said “Subject Punjabi introduced himself as both the nephew and agent of Mr. Kumar, who is said to own a lending company.”
“He claimed that he could process and secure the approval of a cash loan amounting to P20,000,000 in exchange for a facilitation fee,” it also said.
After being convinced by Punjabi, the bureau said “the complainant agreed and provided Subject Punjabi with a Hermes Birkin 35 Raisin Clemence in gold hardware, valued at P500,000, as the facilitation fee.”
“While waiting for the release of her loan, the Complainant learned through a friend that Mr. Kumar does not actually have a lending company and is not involved in lending in any capacity,” it said.
It also said that the complainant was able to communicate with the real Kumar who clarified that he was not the person she had transacted with and that he had no connection to Punjabi.
Thus, it said both the real Kumar and the female complainant went to the NBI to seek the arrest of the scammers after Punjabi contacted the female victim last May 21 to demand P42,000 as additional facilitation fee.