MANILA, Philippines – Police officers arrested a Cameroonian man for alleged involvement in a “black dollar” scam, that duped a victim in Makati City of some P10 million.
Police said those involved in the “black dollar” scam try to fool unsuspecting victims into shelling out money to buy chemicals that supposedly will “clean” bundles of dyed U.S. dollar bills. Victims are usually told that the dollar bills have been dyed to avoid detection by authorities.
Victims are persuaded to buy chemicals which supposedly will remove the dye, with the promise of a share from the total proceeds once the dollar bills are cleaned of the dye.
Members of the Makati Police arrested Serge Michael, 35, inside a hotel in Barangay Urdaneta on Monday at around 6:30 p.m.
The arrest came after a 47-year-old victim, who refused to be identified, told police that Michael persuaded him to invest P12 million into their group so that they “clean” bundles of supposedly dyed U.S. dollar bills worth an estimated P250 million.
After giving the amount, Michael again asked P500,000 from the victim to purchase the chemicals that will be used to “process” the dollar bills and remove the dye.
Maj. Gideon Ines of the Makati police’s Criminal Investigation Division said the victim sensed that he was already being duped by Michael as there were no developments since the transaction started last year.
“Siya [victim] na mismo nakahalata na rin kasi more than a year na ginagawa e. Kaya twelve million since last year pa,” Ines told INQUIRER.net in a phone interview.
Police said Michael was brought to the Makati Police Station for custody while a complaint for swindling is being readied against him. (Editor: Mike U. Frialde)