NBI arrests Liberian tagged in money scam

Agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) have apprehended a Liberian suspected to be engaged in the "black money scam," which dupes people into buying chemicals that would turn pieces of black paper into $100 bills.

NBI officer-in-charge Nestor Mantaring said 27-year-old Gucci York, 27, who claims to be a soccer player, was initially arrested after being accused of rape.

His countryman, identified only as Fidel, eluded arrest.

The bureau has alerted the Embassy of Liberia about York’s arrest. The suspect arrived in the country as a tourist last Feb. 10.

Head agent Ferdinand Lavin, NBI National Capital Region executive officer, said York is believed to be a member of a West African counterfeiting syndicate group engaged in the black money scam.

The scam involves showing prospective victims black strips of paper, "which can be turned into genuine dollar bills."

"A special chemical can supposedly wash out the black soot," Lavin said.

As part of the trick, the suspects would place genuine dollar bills on top of a stack of black paper. Sometimes, to make their claim more credible, the suspects would put dirt on the paper and tell their victims that they had to dig up the paper from Africa, NBI-NCR head agent Rosauro Bautista said.

A 50 ml bottle of the said special solution reportedly costs P200,000. Once a victim has purchased the chemical solution, the suspects would flee and they would never hear from them again.

From York’s rented apartment in Sampaloc, Manila, agents found hundreds of black strips of paper.

The NBI-NCR noted that two years ago, a member of the West African group was arrested for a similar scam.

Lavin encouraged people victimized by York and his group to come forward and file complaints to strengthen their case.

Mantaring said the two Liberians have been accused of rape by two Filipina GROs.

The complainants claimed the suspects forced them to engage in sexual activities. They proceeded to the NBI for assistance and filed rape charges against York before the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office.