QC family, delivery riders fall victim to fake bookings

A family living in Quezon City's Barangay Pinyahan were victims of fake delivery bookings, forcing them and their neighbors to pay for items none of them had ordered, Katrina Son reported Sunday on 24 Oras Weekend.

Several food delivery riders converged at the home of Harold Agustin, a student who was the victim of the fake bookings.

Agustin said he did not order P15,000 worth of food items. He said he felt bad for the delivery riders, who were equally victims of the hoax.

"Doon ako nahihiya, gusto ko nga linisin pangalan ko e (I am embarrassed, I want to clear my name.)," Agustin said.

Agustin's father, Arturo had also been a victim of fake bookings and was forced to pay P30,000 for items that he did not purchase. Arturo said he did not even know how to operate online shopping applications.

Michael Ecle, one of the food delivery riders, was dismayed over the incident, saying he wasted fuel to make the delivery, something he could ill afford as he had a family to support.

The Agustins' neighbors were sympathetic and purchased some of the deliveries. They also noted that fake bookings had been happening a lot in their neighborhood.

The matter was reported to police and barangay officials, and authorities said they would coordinate with Camp Karingal or the Quezon City Police District Headquarters' Anti-Cybercrime Group to determine the source of the fake bookings. — Consuelo Marquez/DVM, GMA News