Cops look for money trail to get scammers

CEBU, Philippines — Police are now coordinating with the money remittance center and a mobile money remittance service company to track down the people behind the latest “double-your-money schemes” on social media victimizing at least six people in Cebu.

The Regional Anti-Cybercrime Group (RACG) of the Philippine National Police in Central Visayas started its investigation by looking at all the money transactions involving Phoenix Trading and Positive Life

Six people sought the help of RACG-7 Monday afternoon after they were allegedly scammed by a certain Ailen Villazar. One of the victims, who requested anonymity, said she used to invest in the foreign exchange (forex) market until a friend invited her to put her money in Phoenix Trading, which guaranteed 100 percent return of investment in 15 days.

The complainant said she was convinced to invest after seeing testimonies on social media from people who received their payouts in just two weeks. According to one of the victims, Villazar assured her that all the money invested in Phoenix Trading would be invested in the forex market so her investment is safe. A certain Joseph San Jose was allegedly behind the company.

According to the complainant, she was able to receive her first payout prompting her to invest more. She said that Phoenix Trading even held a two-day promo to entice more investors by offering to double-your-money in seven days. But Villazar allegedly disappeared after the two-day promo.

The biggest investment put up by one of the complainants amounted to P462,000.

Some of the documents presented by the complainants to the police show that Villazar is from General Trias, Cavite and Maragusan, Compostela Valley.

Meanwhile, two workers of a Health Insurance Company also complained that they were scammed by Positive Life.

Mark Balugo, resident of Mandaue City, said that Positive Life promised to double his capital in six days. He claimed that a certain Airen Himungala who uses a dummy account of Karen Tan from Baguio was behind the company.

Police Regional Office-7 director Police Brigadier Debold Sinas asked all the victims of investment schemes to report to the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group so their case will be given priority. (FREEMAN)