NIGERIAN, PINAY COHORT IN ‘PACKAGE SCAM’ NABBED

OPERATIVES of the Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group arrested a Nigerian national and his Filipina accomplice accused of involvement in the so-called “package scam” in an entrapment operation in Pampanga.

PNP-ACG director Brig. Gen. Sydney S. Hernia said the arrest stemmed from a complaint by a 64-year-old man who claimed he was victimized by the suspects.

According to the victim, on October 2, he received a friend-request on Facebook from a certain “Camille C. Wallace.”

Believing that the friend-request was authentic, the victim subsequently engaged in a number of conversations with his new friend who later convinced him that she will be sending him a package cherished family heirlooms.

The complainant later received a phone call from another person who identified herself as “Sandra Santos.” The woman claimed that the package meant for him had arrived in the Philippines although he needs a substantial amount of money to claim it.

According to the caller, the payments were supposed to be for package delivery fees .

The suspect also said a large sum of money was concealed in the package.

The victim transferred P95,000 in three separate transactions to the scammer. The fraudster, relentless in their pursuit, pressured the victim to provide an additional P80,000, under the false pretense of obtaining package insurance.

The latest monetary demand made the victim realized that he had fallen victim to a “package scam.”

Criminal charges for swindling/estafa, robbery with force and intimidation against a person, and using a fictitious name and concealing true name under the Revised Penal Code, and all in conjunction with Section 6 of Republic Act 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 were filed against the arrested suspects.