(Photos courtesy of ACG)
MANILA – Anti-cybercrime police officers arrested two siblings allegedly involved in the online sale of used and defective items in Pasig City.
In a statement on Friday, Brig. Gen. Joel Doria, chief of the Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG) identified the suspects as Jesty Benito, 32, and his brother Jester, 20, who were arrested by members of the Eastern District Anti-Cybercrime Team (EDACT) and the Pasig City Police Sub-Station 2 in Barangay Sagad.
The operation stemmed from the complaint of a victim identified as "Mika" who said that on August 17, she transacted with a certain Juzto Oteneb on Facebook Marketplace for the purchase of a computer video card (4GB DDR5).
Conversation between the victim and the suspect led to an agreement that the item would be delivered to the victim via courier service and that the item, worth PHP4,500, would be paid via mobile wallet G-Cash.
When the item was delivered, “Mika” found out that it was already used and defective.
She then tried to contact the seller several times but she was blocked by him on Facebook Marketplace.
On Thursday, the victim was able to contact the seller again via his personal Messenger account but the seller insisted that the item sent to her was new and in good condition.
A few minutes after their conversation, she was again blocked by the suspect.
This prompted the victim to report her ordeal to the authorities who set an entrapment that led to the arrest of the two suspects.
Seized from the suspects’ possession were two mobile phones.
Jester is facing charges of violating the consumer act of the Philippines, as well as swindling and estafa while Jesty will be charged with aiding and abetting in the commission of the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.
The arrested persons are in the custody of the EDACT Office for booking procedures and will be turned over to the Pasig City Detention Cell before the conduct of inquest proceedings. (PNA)
