Retired nurse loses money to scammers

CEBU, Philippines - A 62-year-old retired nurse lost Tuesday P365,000 in cash and jewelry in barangay Ibabao, Mandaue City after falling for a clever trick played by a woman who managed to pass herself off as a Malaysian.

Juvita Valenzuela, 62, married, and a resident of Paleras Homers in barangay Basak, Mandaue City was about to withdraw money from a bank Tuesday morning when a woman who introduced herself as Madam Menchie and a Malaysian inquired from her where she could find food preservatives.

As soon as Valenzuela said she didn’t know, a couple named “Gilbert” and “Melanie” joined the conversation and offered to take Madam Menchie to a store in barangay Centro where the preservatives can be bought.

The couple then offered their car to Madam Menchie, and Valenzuela, who agreed.

In Centro, Melanie told the group to remain in the car while she looked for a friend who works at the store.

She was back in the car 10 minutes later, with a woman named Jo-ann.

Madam Menchie told Jo-ann she wanted 120 boxes of the preservatives and the latter told her to make it 200 boxes so she can get a discount.

Madam Menchie then enticed Valenzuela to join her in the business telling her she knew where to dispose of the merchandize in bulk at a profit.

When asked how much Valenzuela had in the bank, she said she had P300,000.

Madam Menchie asked her to withdraw all the money and invest it in the business, assuring her that her money would make P150,000.

Valenzuela withdrew the money and gave it to Madam Menchie.

But Madam Menchie said Valenzuela will keep the money for now until the business started rolling.

It was time to go home and Madam Menchie and the couple offered to take her home.

At her residence, Madam Menchie handed Valenzuela a pouch allegedly containing the money.

Just then, Valenzuela was asked if she had any jewelry because they might be interested in buying it.

She said yes and went up to her house to get her jewelry box, leaving the group in the car.

Upon seeing the jewelry, Madam Menchie’s group told her to put the pieces of jewelry in a pouch they had with them.

But the pouch was just too small for the jewelry to fit in.

Not to worry, one of the women told Valenzuela they were not taking the jewelry.

After taking the pouch allegedly containing the money and the jewelry box back to her house, she went back to the car.

There, Valenzuela was asked whether she had more money to invest.

She said yes and they went to a bank to withdraw P6,500.

They then told her to go home and will go back to her later in the afternoon to talk about the business. 

Four o’clock came and she started to suspect she was swindled.

She opened her jewelry box and found her jewelry missing.

The pouch she thought contained her money was empty except for pieces of paper.

She went to the police.   (FREEMAN)