Authority: DENNIS P AGUSTIN
Police Brigadier General
Director, PNP ACG
Police Brigadier General
Director, PNP ACG
PR No.
Date: December 13, 2019
Date: December 13, 2019
A suspect for access device fraud and identity theft was arrested by operatives of the PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG) in an entrapment operation at Square St., Pacita 1, Phase 1d Subd., Pacita Complex, San Pedro, Laguna on December 13, 2019.
The team led by PLTCOL MARY IVY SALAZAR, Officer-in-Charge, Cyber Financial Crime Unit, ACG apprehended Joel Drilon Mahing a.k.a. “KC/Mommy KC”, Filipino, male, 41 years old, sales agent, a native of Mintal, Davao City and presently residing at Block 22, Lot 5, Waling-Waling St., San Pedro, Laguna 4023 after receiving a credit card in another person’s name with delivery address at Blk.5, Lot 17, Square St. Pacita 1, Phase 1d Subd., Pacita Complex, San Pedro, Laguna at around 11:00 AM of the same day.
Seized from the suspect’s possession was an unopened envelope from the issuing bank enclosing a credit card addressed to the victim and Delivery Receipt.
The operation stemmed from the complaint filed by a representative of a well-known banking company about a suspicious phone call received by one of their customer service representatives (CSR) last December 6, 2019. Based on the report, a certain caller assumed to be a card holder (later identified as Mahing) requested updating of their credit card contact information and billing address as well as issuance of a new card to them.
However, the recipient of the call felt dubious about the request and therefore, through the existing registered contact details, the CSR immediately reached out to the card holder who quickly denied making the said request and filed a dispute affidavit for the said incident right away.
Accordingly, cases for violation of Sections 3 (d) and 9 (e) and (k) of Republic Act No. 8484 (Access Devices Regulation Act of 1998); Commonwealth Act No. 142 (An Act to Regulate the Use of Aliases); Article 178 (Using Fictitious Name and Concealing True Name) in relation to Section 6 of Republic Act No. 10175 (Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012) and Section 4(b)(3) “Computer-Related Identity Theft” are being prepared for filing against the suspect who is presently in custody of the PNP ACG.
Meanwhile, PBGEN AGUSTIN would like to remind the public on the importance of being vigilant especially in guarding themselves against unscrupulous individuals who are taking advantage of the technology in causing damage to others and for this case, the ease of taking over one’s identity for their own benefit.
