CITY of San Fernando, Pampanga – Police urged businessmen to be vigilant in their transactions after four suspected scammers were apprehended in an entrapment operation on Sunday morning, Jan. 19, in Barangay Burnay, Talavera, Nueva Ecija.
FOUR suspected scammers were apprehended in Nueva Ecija on Jan. 19. (PRO-3 FB)
“This case serves as a reminder to our citizens to be cautious when engaging in online transactions. Criminals continue to innovate, but we in the PNP remain steadfast in our efforts to bring them to justice and ensure the safety of our communities,” Police Brig. Gen. Jean S. Fajardo, Police Regional Office-3 chief and concurrent Philippine National Police spokesperson, said.
Investigation said a that a 24-year-old man approached businessman Mr. Cordova, 32, of Cabanatuan City, posed as a motor parts buyer and reseller and purchased items worth P809,000. He presented a falsified online transaction slip as proof of payment for the order.
Cordova delivered the items through a popular delivery service. He went to the bank to verify the payment but found out that no payment was made.
He sought assistance from the police who planned an entrapment operation where four suspects – a 25-year-old man, a 22-year-old woman from Barangay Burnay, and a 28-year-old man and another man from Barangay San Pascual, Talavera, were arrested.
The items were recovered from them but the primary suspect managed to elude authorities and is now the subject of a manhunt.
The arrested suspects face charges of syndicated estafa, a non-bailable offense.