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NBI arrests man who 'duped' distributors, resellers of P25-M Apple products in Pasay City

Philippines | National

NBI arrests man who 'duped' distributors, resellers of P25-M Apple products in Pasay City

By Jeffrey Damicog

A man who allegedly duped gadget distributors and resellers of P25 million worth of Apple products has been arrested in Pasay City, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) said on Thursday, Feb. 19.

The NBI said the suspect, whose name was not disclosed, was arrested during an entrapment operation conducted by the NBI-Cybercrime Division (NBI-CCD).

It also said the suspect was caught in flagrante delicto (in the act) as he attempted to finalize a transaction using an alleged falsified check.

It added that the suspect is under its custody and charges of estafa in relation to Section 6 of Republic Act No. 10175, the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012; use of falsified documents; and the use of fictitious names will be filed against him.

The NBI said its agents acted on the complaint filed by one of the resellers allegedly victimized by the suspect.

It said: “Investigation revealed that the Subject falsely represented himself as an authorized representative of a legitimate company, without the knowledge or authority of said company, in order to gain the trust of distributors and resellers.”

With his fraudulent representation, the NBI said the suspect was able to transact and acquire high-value Apple products through deceit. “The scheme involved the issuance of a falsified check as payment to complete the transaction,” it also said.

The NBI’s advice to business owners: “We urge business owners to exercise the highest level of due diligence: verify every identity, scrutinize every transaction, and ensure you are dealing only with authorized representatives to protect your interests from those who hide behind false titles.”

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