Online swindler falls in NBI trap

AGENTS of the National Bureau of Investigation in Central Visayas (NBI-7) arrested last Wednesday a man who purportedly sold a fake cellular phone to another person.

Mathwell Fernandez was caught in an entrapment operation outside a mall in Cebu City.

Charges of swindling and illegal possession of firearms will be filed against Fernandez before the Cebu City Prosecutors’ Office, said NBI-7 Agent Bernard dela Cruz.

The issue stemmed from a complaint filed by Mischelle Royeca. She said she browsed through sulit.com where she found a Samsung Galaxy S3 being sold by one Edil Avergonzado at P8,999.

When the two communicated through the phone, Royeca said Avergonzado, who was later identified as Fernandez, convinced her to buy the S4 Samsung Galaxy at P18,000 instead of the Samsung S3.

Royeca was told by Fernandez that he was selling the phone at a very low price since it was their first anniversary sale.

“The complainant (Royeca) was enticed to accept his proposal considering that it was indeed cheap considering that an authentic S4 Samsung Galaxy would cost around P30,990,” said NBI-7 Agent Dela Cruz.

Last August 23, Royeca met with a certain Joseph Larong who was allegedly sent by Fernandez.

Royeca said she didn’t bother to open the package containing her order because she was in a hurry.

Upon arriving home, Royeca was surprised when she discovered that the cellphone was a fake.

Royeca called and texted Fernandez but there was allegedly no response from the latter.

The complainant secured a certificate from the Samsung Service Center confirming that the cellphone she bought from Fernandez is not registered with the company.

Royeca then sought the assistance of the NBI-7.

A poseur-buyer transacted with Fernandez who in turn sent Larona to hand over the order. The agents then came and arrested Larong.

Larong said he only delivered the items and was paid P300 to P500 for every transaction completed.

Another operation was conducted by the NBI-7 to arrest Fernandez who received the P19,000 from Larong.

The agents recovered from Fernandez a .45 pistol and two magazines with 12 ammunitions.

In an interview, Fernandez said he bought the cellphones in Colon Street in downtown Cebu City.

I just bought those phones. I knew they were fake but I sold them at a cheaper price,” he said in Cebuano.

Fernandez said he bought a cellular phone in Colon for about P10,000 and would later sell it for P15,000 to P18,000. “I regret what I did,” said Fernandez who is detained at the NBI-7.