Suspect in online phone sale scam arrested in Butuan

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY—Police announced the arrest of an online scam suspect who offers phones for sale online, collects payments but does not deliver the gadgets.

In a statement the Caraga regional police office identified the suspect as Rogelio Guirit, 23, resident of Ampayon village in Butuan city, who was arrested on Thursday (Aug. 6).

A victim, Rocky Pia, said he bought a mobile phone from Guirit, who sold the merchandise via an online platform, a practice that has wildly proliferated during the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to Pia, Guirit made his customers believe that his boss is based in Manila and would promptly ship orders after an advance payment of half the price of the sold items.

Pia told police that he advanced a portion of the price to Guirit through a remittance center and arranged a meet-up to pay the balance and collect the item he bought.

However, Guirit was a no show, and he could no longer be contacted, Pia complained.

The police’s anti-cybercrime group and a station in Butuan City immediately surveilled Guirit, and set up an entrapment operation.

Seized from the suspect were a cell phone, assorted identification cards with different addresses, assorted remittance receipts, cash amounting to P400 and a black wallet.

Guirit is temporarily detained at the Butuan City police station 1 while a case for swindling and violation of the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 are being prepared against him.

TSB