Trader loses P.3 M to con artist

MANILA, Philippines - A businesswoman lost P300,000 in jewelry and other valuables Tuesday night when her house helper was fooled to give away her valuables to an unidentified caller who claimed she met an accident in Sta. Cruz, Manila. 

 Lily Rose Ah, 33, told The STAR that her maid, Lilian Laus, 17, received a phone call from an unidentified woman at around 6 p.m. on Tuesday and told her that she was seriously hurt and could barely talk.

The woman identified herself as Laus’s employer and told her to cooperate with the caller. The woman also asked her to talk to a supposed lawyer who was allegedly handling her case.

When she arrived in the designated area, along C-4 Road in Navotas City, Laus said she was told to stand on a dimly lit waiting shed and wait for a man who would pick up the valuables. She said the man arrived after less than an hour and told her to wait because her employer was coming and they would be going home together.

After two hours of waiting, Laus said she received a text message telling her to go home.

Police investigators said they are not ruling out the possibility that the maid was in cahoots with the suspects.