2 arrested for selling fake cell phone cards

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Friday apprehended two alleged members of a new syndicate engaged in selling bogus cellular phone cards to unsuspecting victims.

Head Agent Roland Argabioso, of the NBI-Field Operations Division (FOD), said they arrested Virgilio Cruz, 43; and Mark Lyndonn Marquez, 24.

Argabioso said the two suspects violated Article 318 of the Revised Penal Code and Section 9 of Republic Act 8484, otherwise known as the Access Devises Regulation Act of 1998. The charges were filed against them before the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office yesterday morning.

It appeared that Pablito Aleman, 50, told the NBI-FOD that Cruz allegedly deceived him into buying “Text2Sawa cell cards” that cost P150 each and supposedly offered unlimited text messaging to all cell phone networks for 30 days.

But Aleman learned that even after he followed the loading instructions on the cell card, he still could not avail of the service.

“We verified with Sun Cellular, Globe Telecoms and Smart Telecommunications and the three companies issued certifications that they did not authorize the suspects to sell such a product. The product is believed to be defective,” Argabioso said.

One of the NBI-FOD agents, who pretended to be an interested buyer, contacted Cruz and arranged a meeting at a fastfood store on Aurora Boulevard in Cubao, Quezon City.

Cruz reportedly showed the agent several cell phone cards and told him that if he purchases 500 pieces, he would lower the price from P150 to P105. Marquez was with Cruz at the meeting.

Other NBI-FOD agents arrested Cruz and Marquez after Cruz received the marked money. The suspects are currently detained at the NBI detention facility.