A suspect who showed a fake receipt to an online seller has been arrested for swindling and estafa. The alleged swindler, under the alias ‘Sofia Lim,’ was arrested during an entrapment operation conducted by the Manila District Anti-Cybercrime Team (MDACT) of the Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP ACG) with the aid of leading finance super app GCash.
The suspect agreed to purchase a total of P157,112 from an online seller of imported clothing from Thailand and Japan. As proof of payment, alias Sofia Lim provided a screenshot or copy of a fake receipt that includes a transaction reference number. However, the amount failed to appear in the seller’s account.
The suspect faces a violation of Article 315, otherwise known as Swindling and Estafa, as amended by RA 10951 in relation to Section 6 of RA 10175, otherwise known as the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012. The suspect is now subject to inquest proceedings at the Las Piñas Prosecutor’s Office.
PNP-ACG sends a powerful message to perpetrators that such actions could result in grave criminal charges and can be dealt with years of prison time. Meanwhile, as part of its ongoing initiative to educate the public on safety while engaging in online transactions, GCash continues to encourage users to be aware of various modes of scams, fraud, and cybercrime.
While cooperation with law enforcement authorities intensifies, GCash also urges its users to be extra vigilant against online scammers and fraudsters. Users are reminded never to disclose their MPIN or OTP. With the rise in phishing incidents, customers are strongly advised never to click links, especially from unknown senders.
For help and assistance, contact the PNP-ACG via their hotlines at (02) 8414-1560, 0998-598-8116, or email at acg@pnp.gov.ph.
To report scams and fraudulent activities, visit the official GCash Help Center in the app or at the website help.gcash.com, message Gigi on the website, and type, “I want to report a scam.” GCash will never send private messages to ask for personal information, especially the MPIN and OTP. Customers can also reach out to the official GCash hotline at 2882 for queries and other concerns.
For more information, visit https://www.gcash.com
