POLICE operatives have arrested a Nigerian and his Filipina cohort for swindling a 59-year-old woman of P2.28 million through social media.
The PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group said the suspects, Nigerian Ikenna Onuoha and Jacel Ann Paderan, were arrested in Bacoor City, Cavite last Tuesday afternoon.
They were nabbed by virtue of an arrest warrant issued by Quezon City Judge Maria Gilda Loja-Pangilinan for swindling/estafa in relation to Republic Act 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.
A third suspect, identified as Cristine Mae Elizares, is still at-large.
Police said the victim met Onuoha, who posed as a citizen of Turkey using the name Demir Balik, in April 2020 through the dating app “Meetme.”
The victim told the police the suspect claimed to have a dormant account at the Clydesdale Bank and needed money to settle the problem.
Police said the suspect managed to convince the victim to give him a total of P2.28 million that were deposited at the Metrobank account of Paderan and Banco de Oro account of Elizares.
Police said the victim raised the money by selling a property.
Last July 15, 2020, one Stephanie Evangelista called the victim and told the latter that Balik has landed at the Cebu International Airport.
Evangelista asked the victim P650,000 for an Anti-Money Laundering Council certificate reportedly needed for the release of Balik’s money allegedly amounting to $1 million.
The victim, who became suspicious she was being conned, sought assistance from the police, leading to the filing of charges against the suspects.
“When the suspect asked for more money from the victim, it is then that she realized that she was being conned and decided to report the incident to our office,” said Lt. Michael Bernardo, the team leader of the Quezon City District Anti-Cybercrime Team who led the operation.
ACG director Brig. Gen. Joel Doria reiterated his advice to the public to be extra careful with people they are meeting online.
“When people you meet online start asking you for money, think again. These are red flags that indicate that you are a potential victim of a love scam,” said Doria.
Doria encourages victims of similar scams to come forward and report the incident “in order for us to properly assist you.”
