Warning: scammers lurk behind online ads

Steelmakers have long been decrying the smuggling of substandard products through the piers. Such crime goes on only with collusion of Customs crooks, they say. Not only the steelmakers’ reputations but also the consumers and the economy suffer. Collapsed structures from the recent earthquake in Bohol and Typhoon Yolanda in Leyte-Samar were found to be of below-par steel bars. Domestic steelmakers initially were blamed, until studies showed the goods to be mostly smuggled through the years, reportedly via the nearby Cebu.

Consequently the Philippine Iron and Steel Institute (PISI) charged several Customs officers posted at the Port of Cebu. Details of years-long false declarations of merchandise and prices were submitted to the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service at the Manila head office. It could be the first major test of reform by the new Customs leadership.

Named respondents in the complaint are: Ronnie C. Silvestre, former collector of the Port of Cebu; his deputy Maximo P. Reyes; and Elmer S. Bailo, head of the valuation committee.

About P80 million in duties allegedly were left uncollected by them.

Also in the complaint are: Chin Sun Yu, president of Joyland Industries Corp.; corporate secretary Corazon O. Yu; general manager James O. Yu; treasurer Gladys H. Yu; director Samson O. Tiu; and Benjamin Go, who represented Joyland in past hearings.

The PISI alleged that 17 importations by Joyland of over 44,000 tons of steel products were valued at $300 per ton on average. Of that total, 35,000 tons were wire rods valued at $295 per ton.

When the shipments were allowed in, the Customs’ reference price for steel rods ranged from $670 to $800 per ton. Yet the Cebu officers left unquestioned import valuations that were way below scrap metal.

The steel industry globally uses the Metal Bulletin as standard reference for steel prices at any given time. Customs officers need but to check the website establish proper valuation of imports.

The importation of steel wire rods is of particular concern. Philippine manufacturing standards prohibit the use of such rods to produce re-bars because of poor tensile strength from construction use.

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Sulit.com is a fast, easy, inexpensive way to sell your wares. It costs free to post an ad, text and visuals, no matter what duration or frequency. All that’s needed is to register a user account with the website.

But, as in all good things, criminals lurk in wait for prey. Identity theft, name-dropping of reputable products and institutions, and confidence game are their forte. Beware that what happened to Teacher Riza and Dr. Annelee B. Lojo does not befall you.

Late night of Feb. 1, Riza (surname withheld at her request) saw an ad for a used iPhone5, P16,000, on the link http://sulit.com.ph/36178670. She inquired from the stated cell phone — 0917-9362622 — if the item was still available. It was, came a reply early the next morning. After more text queries about the status of the item, Riza designated a mall in Pasay City for them to conclude the sale later that day. She got the reply that the seller was out of town and wouldn’t be back for at least two days. The seller introduced herself as Dr. Annelee B. Lojo, Ob-Gyn of a certain nearby hospital, Clinic No. 312. Riza was given two options: to meet in a week at the clinic, or remit the P16,000 via Western Union so the merchandise can be couriered to her address. For clincher, Riza was told to check the seller’s credentials on the Internet, for trustworthiness as a professional.

Riza did check out the name. Her confidence won, she sent her husband that afternoon to pay the P16,000 thru Western Union, then texted the payment receipt number to the seller. A reply came for her to expect LBC parcel delivery within 24 hours, tracking No. 181509448952.

Receiving nothing by late night of Feb. 3, Riza checked online the LBC tracking number. She was informed that it was invalid. She texted and called the seller again and again. No reply; she’d been barred. She used her husband’s mobile to call. The seller, not expecting her, told her -- in a curt youngish female voice -- to bug off. That was the last Riza heard from the scammer.

The next day Riza confirmed with LBC that no such transaction was ever made. She went to the stated hospital and was told that Dr. Annelee B. Lojo no longer reported there, but was referred to the Makati Medical Center. There she went on Feb. 5, and finally met the real Dr. Annelee B. Lojo. The latter’s voice was gentle, so unlike the one on the phone. (I know Annelee from U.P.-Diliman, we having been members of the campus theater troupe Samapil in the ‘70s; she speaks softly with a Bicol accent.)

It was Dr. Annelee’s turn to be worried. The stolen identity of her colleague Dr. Eileen Manalo too had been used in a similar modus weeks before. Four victims already had confronted the hapless doctora about their undelivered purchases of iPhones and signature handbags. That morning of Feb. 5 Dr. Eileen had gone to DZMM radio to raise an alert. At her clinic that afternoon a fifth victim came to see her.

Dr. Annelee has posted a warning on Facebook against the misuse of her name. Sadly, a seventh apparent conned victim is denouncing her in a blog as a “Dr. Scammer” selling furniture online.

The victimized blogger is wrongly hitting a person on his/her own side. As for Sulit.com, it took down the fraudulent ad account as soon as Riza reported, lest more victims fall for the scam. Latest word from Dr. Eileen is that the NBI cybercrime section has traced the account to Pampanga.

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