FB POST LEADS TO ARREST OF 2 MEN IN P5.8M LAPTOP FRAUD

A POST at the social media Facebook has helped the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) arrest two men accused of defrauding a computer trading company of 151 laptop computers worth P5.8 million.

Nabbed were Danilo A. Teofilo Jr. alias “Dan” and Carlos Gonzales.

The arrest was made following a complaint filed by Accent Micro Technologies Inc. (AMTI), a computer trading company.

According to the complaint, a certain “Joseph Wee” purchased 150 laptop units totaling P5,842,500 from the company.

On November 13, 2023, “Wee” paid for the laptops with a cash deposit slip from a commercial bank, indicating the amount paid to AMTI sales agent.

The laptops were then collected by “Wee’s” authorized representative.

However, the following day, the commercial bank informed AMTI that Wee’s account had been closed.

Recognizing the fraudulent nature of the transaction, AMTI made extensive efforts to locate and retrieve the laptop units.

Fortunately, the AMTI’s credit manager discovered a Facebook post advertising laptops with the same specifications as those purchased by “Wee.”

The manager contacted the cellphone number provided in the FB page and successfully ordered 35 units from a certain “Dan” of Dan’s Laptop.

On November 21, 2023, the NBI-Anti-Fraud Division (NBI-AFD proceeded to San Mateo, Rizal, where they arrested the suspects.

Teofilo and Gonzales were charged with estafa under Article 315 of the Revised Penal Code (RPC) in connection with Republic Act 10175 (Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012).