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4 bank ‘fraudsters’ collared for trying to withdraw P400K

August 11, 2022 Gil Aman 343 views

KAMPO HENERAL PACIANO RIZAL – Three bank fraudsters who stole P1.4-million cash and attempted to steal another P400,000 in a phishing scam were arrested in a joint hot pursuit operation in San Pedro City on Wednesday.

P/Col. Cecilio R. Ison Jr. said the suspects were three Nigerian nationals and a Filipina.

In the report of San Pedro Police on August 10, the female accomplice attempted to withdraw P400,000 from the China Bank San Pedro branch at 2:00 p.m. from the account of Surjan Singh Kathait, 45, male, and an Indian businessman.

The China Bank San Pedro branch then coordinated with the China Bank Carmona branch for a supposed inter-branch withdrawal; however, the latter received information from China Bank Bonifacio Global City (BGC) that the remittance was “hacked” and possibly a victim of a phishing scam).

San Pedro Police received a phone call from China Bank Carmona regarding the fraud transaction, and the police coordinated with the Cavite Provincial Intelligence Unit (PIU), and the Regional Anti-Cybercrime Unit (RACU) to launch a “hot pursuit” operation resulting in the arrest of the female suspect at Bgy. Nueva in San Pedro City and the two Nigerian suspects at Petron San Pedro and Robinsons Galleria South.

The P1.4 million cash withdrawn from the victim’s account earlier the same day at China Bank Carmona and China Bank Muntinlupa was also recovered.

The suspects are now in the custody of San Pedro Police. They will be facing charges of computer-related fraud (violation of Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012), Article 315 (Swindling/Estafa) of RPC in relation to Sec. 6 of RA 10175.

Ison Jr. said, “I personally commend our police in San Pedro City and the other operating units for this successful operation. I also commend the personnel of the China Banks as well for their immediate action in coordinating with us, which led to the arrest of these suspects.”

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