In a statement, LTFRB chairman Thompson Lantion said suspect Elizabeth Ignes, 37, was identified by one of her victims.
Lantion said Ignes had promised one of her victims, Isauro de los Santos, that she would help him secure a franchise for a fee of P52,500. The franchise was later said to be fake.
Ignes had also promised De los Santos that she would secure the yellow license plate for his vehicle. Both the franchise and yellow plate were supposed to be given last Jan. 15 but she did not show up.
Another victim, Noli Villanueva, alleged that Ignes swindled P35,000 from him. Three other victims — Mary Ann Borriwaga-Ureta, Gaudennio Orense Jr. and Maria Lourdes Castañeda-Dionido — similarly charged that Ignes collected money from them in exchange for her help.
Ignes was able to swindle a total of P217,890 from her five victims, according to Lantion.
She was caught when Villanueva spotted her at the LTFRB on Jan. 19 and immediately alerted the Franchise Enforcement Group of LTFRB and the Department of Transportation and Communications Action Center stationed at the LTFRB.
Lantion said they discovered that Ignes had victimized about 10 other people who have filed complaints with the police. Ignes is now detained at the Quezon City Police District.
He warned that they would arrest all other fixers and swindlers posing as liaison officers of the LTFRB and defrauding victims by giving fake franchises.
At least two suspects using the same modus operandi are currently under surveillance, sources at the LTFRB said.
One of them reportedly works in a car dealership company. The suspect tries to offer a buyer of a taxi his services, handling of paperwork and other requirements at the LTFRB such as franchises and yellow plates, in exchange for a sum.
The other suspect reportedly works in an office somewhere along Quezon Avenue in Quezon City.