ID thief leaves dead in debt

MANILA, Philippines–It’s time to collect from him who had splurged and charged everything to the dead.

A man was arrested in Mandaluyong City for allegedly using a credit card belonging to someone who has been dead for two years, making purchases amounting to almost P300,000 in just two days.

The police suspect that prior to his arrest, Eamonn Criss Madriaga worked in cahoots with a bank employee to get personal information on deceased clients so that a new credit card may be issued for his own gain.

Madriaga, 35, fell into a trap set by the Anti-Cybercrime Group (ACG) of the Philippine National Police which had an undercover agent posing as a messenger and delivering another credit card to the suspect who then presented a fake ID to accept it.

According to a complaint filed by the Baterina Baterina Casals Lozada & Tiblani law firm, the suspect has been using a credit card in the name of a deceased man. The ACG declined to name the deceased client as requested by the law firm, which represented a bank.

“He has been using the credit card to buy groceries, an electric motorcycle and other items in different groceries and stores in Metro Manila,” said ACG head Senior Supt. Gilbert Sosa.

The ACG learned that in just two days, Madriaga was able to accumulate purchases totaling P287,801.34. The purchased items were then sold at lower prices and the proceeds were divided among the suspect and his accomplices.

“The family (of the deceased) complained that the debts kept piling up even after his death,” said ACG spokesperson Chief Insp. Jay Guillermo.

Madriaga was arrested around 11:30 a.m. Friday on Sen. Neptali Gonzales Street in Barangay (village) San Jose, Mandaluyong City, when he accepted  delivery of a credit card from the undercover policeman and presented a fake ID that had the name of the deceased client.

Still in detention Sunday, Madriaga faces charges for violation of Republic Act 8484 or the Access Device Act of 1998.