Swindler uses Facebook for transactions
The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) yesterday announced the arrest of an individual in Manila for swindling. NBI Officer-In-Charge Eric B. Distor identified the suspect as Kirk Gabriel Bauza David, who uses the alias “Sarah Cruz” on Facebook.
Distor said the victim appeared before the NBI-Special Operations Group (NBI-SOG) to complain about the modus operandi of a certain “Sarah Cruz.” Through his sworn statement, “Sarah Cruz” ordered from him through Facebook two airsoft guns and one hard case scope in three separate transactions.
In the first transaction, the suspect communicated with the complainant through Facebook Messenger, ordering an EC843 airsoft gun with a selling price of P17,350.
As proof of payment, the suspect sent through FB Messenger the screen shot of the online money transfer.
After seeing the payment has already been made, the complainant sent the airsoft gun to the suspect at Tondo General Hospital (TGH) as the place of delivery via Lalamove.
The modus operandi continued up to second and third transactions, sending to the complainant the proof of payment through FB
Messenger.
Upon checking his bank statement, he discovered that the three previous money transfers were not credited to his bank account.
Believing that the complainant is unaware of his modus operandi, the suspect ordered again for the fourth time, a John Wick Xcortech, and sent the proof of payment via FB Messenger.
The next day Cruz again ordered the same item and sent to the complainant another proof of payment.
This prompted the complainant to seek the help of the NBI-SOG and the entrapment operation was set up.
On 11 June 2020, Cruz’s two orders were sent to TGH through a courier. Agents proceeded to TGH and saw the courier handing over the items to a male individual.
The suspect who turned out to be David was arrested by NBI agents. Recovered from himweretwoJohnWick Xcortech, one Yamaha NMAX motorcycle, a cellular phone, a driver’s license and a Lazada ID.