According to Cedric Castillo’s Thursday report on “24 Oras”, operatives of the NBI-Anti-Organized and Transnational Crime Division (NBI-AOTCD) apprehended the suspects in an entrapment operation at their office on Wednesday.
The NBI team found legitimate ID cards with varying information details such as names, birthdates, and addresses but with the same photograph.
“Itong ‘Frankenstein’ o synthetic identity fraud, ‘yung panloloko nila is gumagamit sila ng mga valid, legit ‘yung mga ID na ginagamit nila. Pero yung mga information sa ID, ‘yun ‘yung mga false information,” said NBI-AOTCD chief Jerome Bomediano.
(In ‘Frankenstein’ or synthetic identity fraud, suspects deceive their victims using valid IDs containing false information.)
“Nag-create din sila ng parang legit na company. Gumawa rin sila ng website so itong mga bangko, pag nagsi-CI (credit investigation) sila dito sa mga nag-apply ng loan. Meron din silang HR na taga-sagot,” he added.
(They also create a legitimate-looking company and a website to convince banks conducting credit investigations when they apply for a loan. They also have someone claiming as their HR (human resources) who answers questions.)
Two of the suspects declined to issue statements but one claimed he was not a member of the group, saying he was just transacting with them.
“Wala po akong idea. Sa mga sasakyan kasi business ko. Nag-aahente ako ng mga sasakyan,” he said.
(I have no idea. My business concerns cars. I deal with cars.)
“Jenielin” (not her real name), one of the suspects said she is willing to testify against the organization. She said she was recruited by the group as a “talent”.
“Bibigyan ka ng information. Kailangan mo yun makabisado, 2 months preparation po…Gagawan mo po siya ng pirma na hindi ka magkakamali,” she said.
(They gave me information that I needed to memorize including creating signatures. I had two months to prepare.)
“Since magla-last lang ang company ng 2-3 months, alis na po kaming lahat. Wala nang paramdam… Pupunta sa company, wala na pong tao,” she added.
(The company will only last for 2-3 months. After [getting the bank loan], everyone would disappear and there’s no one left at the company.)
Jenielin said she was able to get a P300,000 loan from a bank. Ten percent of the amount was considered her “talent fee”.
Asked as to how the alleged syndicate obtained legitimate IDs, the suspect said they went through the normal process. She also said the group provided her with a fake driver’s license which she used to apply for a government ID.
“Natatakot di po ako, eh. Syempre yung family ko, di nila alam na ganito ang ginagawa ko,” Jenielin added.
(I was so scared. My family doesn’t even know this is what I do.)
As a precaution, the NBI reminded financial institutions to remain vigilant and to be strict when it comes to conducting credit investigations with their clients. —RF, GMA Integrated News
