Fake proof of payments used in P1.4 million online selling scam

Authorities arrested a man suspected of using fake proofs of payment to scam an online seller for over P1.4 million worth of tires.

In a "24 Oras" report from Marisol Abdurahman on Thursday, operatives of the Northern District Anti-Cybercrime Team arrested a suspect in relation to an online scam.

The suspect would allegedly order tired online and show the seller their proof of payment.

“Nagse-send po sya ng receipt…Proof of payment through bank transfer… May nga reference number, may amount,” Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group Spokesperson Col. Zyrah Joy Duazo Cabal said. (They sent the receipt…Proof of payment through bank transfer…That has a reference number, an amount.)

The victim had believed that the suspect was able to send the money, so they no longer checked their account.

The suspect would reportedly book a delivery rider but he would not have it delivered to the place on the app.

“He will call the driver personally then ipapa-deliver sa isang lugar na hindi naka-record,” Cabal said. (He will call the driver personally then have it delivered to a palace that is not recorded.)

The first transaction was P7,000 on September 11. But then the orders got larger and larger in the following days.

Within a month, the transactions reached P1.4 million. The victim eventually realized that no money was entering their account.

The seller was showing full trust and confidence in the suspect, Cabal said.

The victim then asked the police for help from the police, and they were able to arrest the suspect and the driver. The suspect now faces complaints of swindling and estafa, in relation to the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.

Authorities reminded the public to verify proofs of payment and other transaction details. — Jean Mangaluz/BAP, GMA News