Police arrested a man who stole more than P500K worth of cat and dog food from a retailer by creating fake proofs of payment, according to Emil Sumangil’s exclusive report in 24 Oras on Monday.
The Eastern District Anti-Cybercrime Unit arrested the suspect outside his condominium by policemen in civilian attire after they traced him via a package that he ordered under his name.
The suspect said he bought the pet food but authorities found that the proof of payment in a screenshot and sent to the retailer was bogus.
“Dino-doktor, ina-alter ang mga receipts na yan para maniwala kayo dahil nakita nila na nag send ng transaction receipts, (they went ahead)! Na process ang order,” said Police Captain Michelle Sabino, spokesperson of the Philippine National Police – Anti-Cyber Crime Group.
(The receipts were altered to convince the victims. When they send the transaction receipts, it means the order was processed.)
Investigation found that the suspect had been doing this delivery scam in different occasions from May 19 to June 6.
“There appears to be a criminal syndicate who has the facility to submit fake proof of payments, so they will get the goods, they will send a proof of payment, and then, eventually it would be discovered that these proofs of payment are fictitious and fraudulent,” said Regidor Ponferrada, lawyer of the complainant.
According to the police, the stolen merchandise was sold at retail price.
“Yung umo-order ng ganitong produkto sa biktima, meron pa rin ganoong case before sa amin, same modus, same person,” Sabino said.
(There was a case we handled before where people ordered this product from the victim with the same modus done by the same person.)
Authorities said the sale of pet food is booming in the market and is enticing to people take advantage of the situation.
The suspect has yet to give his comments. He is now under the custody of the San Juan Police.—Mariel Celine Serquiña/RF, GMA Integrated News
