Fish trader loses money in raffle scam

MANILA, Philippines - A 61-year-old fish dealer at the Navotas Fishport Complex lost her P45,000 savings in a raffle scam transacted by strangers using mobile phones.

Police Officer 2 Michael Mortel said Merceditas Arroyo (not her real name), of Barangay West Navotas, appeared traumatized when she went to the police station Saturday.

Arroyo said a woman who identified herself as Hazel Suarez called her, saying she won a Toyota Avanza in an electronic raffle in Cebu City held by the firm Gap International last March 14.

Suarez, who claimed to be the secretary of Dave Pascual Morales, alleged president of Gap, told Arroyo that she would get an additional P300,000 once she submits photocopies of two valid IDs, her residence certificate or driver’s license.

Suarez asked the victim to contact Romeo Vasquez and Arthur Go who would give her other details of the promo raffle.

Vasquez told Arroyo to immediately send the documents to him in Cebu City via courier so they could be quickly processed.

He told her she had to make a choice among three kinds of car insurance she has to pay — comprehensive (worth P23,000), semi-comprehensive (P10,700) and ordinary (P7,200). Arroyo chose the ordinary and sent the amount immediately.

Vasquez, however, told her the Land Transportation Office does not register brand-new vehicles with ordinary insurance as it was only for second-hand vehicles. Arroyo paid an additional P16,000 within an hour.

The man allegedly promised to bring the car and the P300,000 to her house, but her “winnings” never came and the suspects stopped contacting her.