How ‘Honey Love’ scammers deceived victims?

Baguio City, Philippines – A Philippine Navy service woman from Dasmarinas City, Cavite fall victim to a couple of ‘Honey Love’ scammers, who were later discovered to be residing temporarily in Bengao, Marcos Highway, Baguio City.

This ‘Honey Love’ scam uses social media platforms and or dating apps where the con artists befriends the victim, then they will send packages. However, in order for the victim to receive them, they are required to pay certain fees.

The Police Regional Office Cordillera (PRO-COR) in their report relates that the victim sought the help from the operatives. She related that via chat, she was messaged by a certain ‘Lucas,’ claiming to be a civil engineer in South Korea and that he sent her a package.

“Lucas’ messaged that the package contains Apple laptops, IPhone, watch and cash. But to get the package from the airport, the victim was told to pay P35,000.00 for custom clearance fee.

The victim was deceived and paid the amount to a certain Analiza Fadriga Ellasos.

The victim however became suspicious when later, a certain ‘Sharon,’ claiming to be a Korean service agent, asked her to pay P145,000 for the issuance of money laundering certificate, after the package was allegedly detected with dollar bills, which is illegal and that she will be imprisoned if she’s not going to pay.

The victim then verified the tracking number of the package at the airport only to find out that there was no such item sent.

With the assistance of the airport police, the victim continued chatting with the suspect for the entrapment operation.

The 2 con artists’ arrest

Through the joint effort of the Manila International Airport Police Department, Regional Anti-Cybercrime Unit – Cordillera (RACU-COR) and Baguio City Police Office, an entrapment operation was successfully conducted that resulted to the arrest of two individuals.

PNP Cordillera identified the suspects as Williams John Ani, 29-year-old Nigerian and Indira Geil Villanueva Duca, 25, a Filipino.

Ani who posed as Lucas Chan and Duca who pretended as agent Sharon were arrested by the operatives after they claimed the money sent by the victim in a remittance center in Marcos Highway on May 21.

After a blotter report was done at the Legarda Police Station, the suspects together with the complainant were brought to the Chapel Road, NAIA Complex, Pasay City for proper disposition.

The suspects are going to face charges for Swindling or Estafa (online scam) in line with Sec. 6 of Republic Act 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.

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