Police warned the public yesterday against a new modus operandi of a credit card scam syndicate following the arrest Friday of its two members while about to dupe a businesswoman in Marikina City.
Superintendent Sotero Ramos Jr., Marikina City police chief, advised credit card holders to transact business with authorized bank employees instead of people who might turn out to be members of the syndicate.
Ramos said John Eric de Mesa, 24, and Ryan Labado, 27, both of Barangay Bagbag, Novaliches, Quezon City, were caught because of the presence of mind of businesswoman Theresita Mago, 44.
During tactical interrogation, De Mesa and Labado said they operate on weekends to make it hard for their victims to verify or check their illegal transactions with the bank.
“The syndicate would make their transactions with their intended victims right after closing hours of banks on Friday and the weekend. The victim would be surprised by Monday when informed that the syndicate used his card to the limit,” Ramos said.
Initial investigation showed that Mago received last Oct. 15 a telephone call from a man claiming to be from the cardholder service department of a bank.
The caller instructed Mago to prepare a photograph for her personalized credit card, which would be processed and issued in several days.
The next day, De Mesa and Labado, armed with a notice from the bank, appeared at Mago’s residence in SSS Village, Barangay Concepcion Dos. The suspects said they were told to go to Mago’s house and were provided with her address. Mago said she does not know how the suspects got hold of her personal information, including her birthday.
The notice signed by the bank’s cardholder service department stated that Mago’s credit card, which has a P230,000 credit limit, would be deactivated and her personalized card be issued on Oct. 20.
Doubting the authenticity of the bank letter, Mago went into her room and called up SPO4 Rogelio Atienza, Police Community Precinct (PCP) commander in Barangay Concepcion Dos, to seek his help.
De Mesa and Labado did not resist arrest. They yielded a wireless telephone, a motorcycle and the bank letter.
The suspects admitted their crime.
Ramos ordered the filing of swindling charges against De Mesa and Labado through inquest prosecutor Alfredo Barcelona Jr. The suspects are currently detained at the Marikina City police detention center.