OPERATIVES of the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) have arrested two Liberian citizens for financial fraud in Quezon City.
The CIDG said the suspects, identified only as Gorge and Johnson, are facing charges of swindling/estafa and illegal possession and use of false treasury or bank notes and other instruments of credit.
In a statement on Monday night, the CIDG said the suspects were arrested last Friday at RedDoors Hotel in Kamuning based on the complaint of a businesswoman identified only as Susana.
The CIDG said the “unsuspecting” victim bought P1.86 million worth of black dollars from the suspects.
“Coordination with the proper authorities revealed that the black dollar is a fraud,” the CIDG said.
This prompted the conduct of an entrapment operation, leading to the eventual arrest of the suspects “while in the act of defrauding their victim.”
The CIDG said Gorge and Johnson are members of the Black Dollar African Criminal Gang operating in Metro Manila and nearby provinces.
Seized from them were one P1,000 bill, 20 counterfeit US dollar bills, a luggage bag, a vault containing cotton and powdered chemicals, a pile of green banknote-sized paper, identification cards, and three mobile phones.
CIDG Director Brig. Gen. Nicolas Torre III said the CIDG continues to be “relentless in pursuing criminals involved in crimes against public interest and crimes against property such as fraud, scams and estafa.
“We are reminding the public to be aware of the schemes of individuals offering large sums of money for upfront payments. If it’s too good to be true, it is probably not,” said Torre.
He also urged the public to “immediately report” such suspicious activities to authorities.
“Rest assured that your CIDG will keep an eye on all scammers, local and foreign nationals, to protect the citizenry, arrest the suspects and prevent further frauds,” said Torre.