A woman who reportedly duped pensioners of almost P1 million in an alleged investment scam has been arrested in Quezon City, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) said on Friday, Oct. 3.
In a statement, the NBI identified the suspect as Domingo Supnet Mejia who was arrested last Sept. 30 during an entrapment operation conducted by the bureau’s National Capital Region (NBI-NCR).
It said it secured a certification from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) which stated that Mejia has not been issued a certificate of registration as a registered associated person, compliance officer, salesman, or certified investment solicitor of a dealer in securities, investment house, underwriter of securities, investment company adviser, or mutual fund distributor.
With her arrest, Mejia was charged before the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office with estafa under Article 315 of the Revised Penal Code (RPC); and violations of Republic Act (RA) No. 11765, the Financial Products and Services Consumer Protection Act as amended, and Sections 8 and 28 of RA 8799, the Security Regulation Act.
The NBI said its operation “stemmed from a complaint filed before the NBI-NCR regarding an alleged illegal investment scheme targeting pensioners and other individuals.”
It said that the group allegedly led by Mejia has been soliciting funds from the public with the promise of high returns but operating without the necessary license from the SEC.
It also said the group's modus operandi involved recruiting investors to finance loans for supposed retired soldiers, collecting processing fees, and misappropriating the proceeds, while providing only minimal returns to investors and borrowers.
“According to the complainant, their group's lump sum pension of P900,000 was entrusted to Subject Mejia, leaving only P 120,000 with them,” the NBI said.
“Complainant’s attempts to recover her money were unsuccessful, as the funds were allegedly controlled by Mejia,” it added.
The NBI said its operatives hatched an entrapment operation after Mejia agreed to meet with the complainant for the handing over of P1 million as investments.