Public cautioned vs fake money
CEBU, Philippines – Police in Talisay City have warned the public against the proliferation of fake money, especially during the holiday season.
Superintendent Germano Mallari, chief of Talisay City police, issued the warning after a lady pensioner was victimized by a suspected swindler who used fake money inside a mall in Barangay Lawaan II, Talisay City.
Mallari said with the yuletide season fast approaching, transactions involving money are also increasing and people are expected to receive bonuses from their employers and bosses.
He said the public should be more vigilant on these days since swindlers and other criminals are just around.
Last week, Dominica Rosello, resident of Camella Homes Subdivision, Barangay Lawaan I, Talisay City, reported the incident to Talisay City police.
She said the incident happened at 7 p.m. on November 15 when she withdrew her pension from the automated teller machine.
She said she was falling in line following the suspect wearing ball cap. The suspect allegedly gave way for the victim to withdraw.
When Rosello was heading towards the grocery store, the suspect approached her and asked to exchange his four P500 bills for the latter's two P1,000 bills.
The victim said she handed her P2,000 to the suspect and the suspect handed his money to her.
The suspect fled and the victim went to the grocery store without knowing that the suspect gave her P2,000 in fake money.
The cashier prevented the victim to purchase upon discovering that the bills were fake.
"Eh courteous yung lalaki sa akin kaya pinagbigyan ko siya. Pero nalungkot ako pag nalaman ko na fake yung pera ko," said Rosello, who is a native of Metro Manila.
Rosello immediately sought assistance from mall's security personnel and they reviewed the CCTV camera footages. However, the identity of the suspect could not be clearly established since he was wearing ballcap.
"Bakit pinayagan sa mga guard na pumasok ang mga taong nagsuot ang bullcap, eh bawal yan?" Rosello said. (FREEMAN)
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