MANILA, Philippines – Officials of the National Bureau of Investigation advised the public Friday to be careful in filling up credit card application forms in malls.

The NBI said some credit card agents could be working with unscrupulous groups involved in fraud.

The warning came following the arrest Tuesday of Amorsola Pabalan of Batasan Hills, Quezon City, and her alleged associate Jesus Mariano of Sucat, Parañaque City, for allegedly using another name in applying for a credit card.

Charges of violation of Republic Act 8484, otherwise known as the Access Devices Act, were filed against the suspects before the Makati Prosecutor’s Office. The two are now detained at the NBI jail.

Palmer Mallari of the NBI Anti-Fraud and Computer Crimes Division said they were investigating if credit card agents usually subcontracted by banks were providing syndicates with personal information on legitimate cardholders.

An investigation conducted by the AFCCD showed that on March 24, Pabalan applied for a Standard Chartered Bank Gold credit card – with a credit limit of P500,000 – by assuming the identity of a certain Blanca Grace Songco. Attached to the form was Songco’s Social Security card.

On May 7, a SCB customer service representative received a call from the real Songco asking why the bank sent her a cash advance pin when she did not apply for a credit card.

When Songco went to the SCB office, she was shown an accomplished application form and its annexes. Songco denied filing the application.