Forex shop teller nabbed for estafa

MANILA, Philippines - Police arrested a moneychanger shop teller in Quiapo, Manila for allegedly swindling a businessman of $1,900 (approximately P100,000) Sunday.

Concerned shoppers called police after Jaymar Sunglao, 36, a teller of Monies Money Changer, and businessman Ericson Bote, 40, almost figured in a fistfight in front of the shop at the second floor of the Ever Gotesco Plaza along C.M. Recto Avenue.

Bote, who sells dollars, said Sunglao called him up about a customer who wants to buy dollars at a higher exchange rate of P47 to a dollar.

After giving the amount to Sunglao, Bote said he left the shop for a while but returned shortly. However, he was shocked when Sunglao told him that the man he entrusted with the dollars failed to return. This angered Bote, who almost came to blows with Sunglao. Police failed to find the dollars on Sunglao.

“This is another modus operandi of swindlers operating at the money exchange shops. Whereas before they only resort to shortchanging customers, now they steal the entire amount using an old alibi,” Sta. Cruz police station chief Superintendent Nelson Yabut said.

Sunglao was charged with estafa.      – Nestor Etolle