Woman arrested for scamming online sellers

MANILA, Philippines — The Manila Police District (MPD) yesterday warned online sellers after a woman was arrested for using doctored bank receipts in Sampaloc on Monday afternoon.

Jamaica Suzane Sahagun, 22, was about to pick up her order from the Ibodega Shop along M. Jocson street when a team from the MPD Station 4, led by Lt. Col. Robert Domingo, arrested her at around 2 p.m.

Sahagun, a resident of Sarrat in Ilocos Norte, first gains the online seller’s trust by depositing the right amount in the seller’s bank account.

She would later use tampered bank receipts, adding a digit or two to her actual deposit, to make it appear she paid the right amount, Domingo said.

Businessman Louis Alzona contacted police after sensing something amiss after Sahagun deposited money in his sister-in-law’s account.

Sahagun’s latest purchase from Alzona prior to her arrest was a high-end cell phone. She would take a picture of the tampered receipt and send it to Alzona, whereupon he would ship her order. 

Domingo said Sahagun admitted to the scam and told police she had victimized other online sellers.

He said Alzona lost P275,000 to the suspect, who was charged with estafa.