NBI agents arrest prepaid card swindler

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) said yesterday it has arrested a swindler preying on Chinese-Filipino businessmen during a recent entrapment operation in Tondo, Manila.

Jacqueline Buzon, 36, was caught in the act of receiving marked money amounting to P100,000 from businesswoman Geraldine Cheng, who told NBI agents she was swindled by the suspect.

NBI Special Task Force chief Reynaldo Esmeralda said in his report that Buzon collected from Cheng P900,000 as advance payment for 3,308 cell prepaid cards last Aug. 22.

Buzon, however, claimed later that he was robbed along R. Papa Street and lost the money.

Cheng told investigators that last July 12, Buzon convinced her to purchase P300-prepaid cards at only P270 each from her. She reportedly gave the suspect P300,000 as initial payment. On the same day, the prepaid cards she ordered were delivered to her.

As their transaction continued, Cheng said Buzon asked her to post a cash bond of P100,000 for 1,500 cards. By then, her order has also increased to as many as 3,000 cards.

Last Aug. 22, Cheng gave Buzon P900,000 as downpayment for 3,308 pieces of cards but the suspect delivered only 2,000 cards. Later that evening, she said she received a call from a policeman from Blumentritt Station through Buzon’s cell phone, informing her that Buzon reportedly lost the cash to an unidentified robber.

Cheng immediately sought the help of NBI agents who then conducted investigation on the allegation.

On Aug. 25, a certain Esteban Ayao testified before the NBI that he overheard the plan of Buzon to get money from Cheng and later declare that she was robbed. This plan was confirmed by another witness, identified as Nelly Opinaldo.

After her modus operandi was unveiled, Buzon continued her transaction with Cheng and again demanded P100,000, prompting NBI agents to conduct the entrapment operation last Aug.29, leading to her arrest.

NBI agents later identified Buzon’s cohorts as Mary Koo, Irma Mereno, and Charles Mendoza. — Edu Punay