Basketball player loses phone to swindler

MANILA, Philippines — A varsity player of the University of the East basketball team lost his cell phone worth P53,000 after he was reportedly swindled by a woman at the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) headquarters at Camp Karingal on Wednesday.

Kobe Martin Camacho, 23, told probers that the suspect, Dyandra Coronel, messaged him on Facebook and inquired about his iPhone Promax, which he advertised at Facebook app marketplace.

Camacho said the suspect used the Facebook account Li Shih Yu, but he still agreed to meet up with her.

The basketball player, accompanied by his partner, and the suspect met at the police camp’s gate.

Coronel asked Camacho’s partner to wait outside while she and the victim went to the QCPD canteen.

Once inside the eatery, the suspect asked Camacho for his cell phone, which the victim readily handed over.

Coronel asked Camacho if she could bring the phone to her father, who she claimed is a police officer working inside the camp.

The suspect returned after a few minutes and asked Camacho to reset the contents of the cell phone.

Camacho became suspicious when Coronel did not return after 40 minutes.