Student nabbed in Isabela in alleged credit card scam

A student was arrested in Cauayan, Isabela for his involvement in an alleged credit card scam, according to GMA News' Jay Sabale's report on "24 Oras", Friday.

The suspect was identified as 23-year-old Christian Salvador, a Dean's lister taking up Computer Science, allegedly set up a fake bank website.

It is through this website that he was able to retrieve the account information of his victims.

He was arrested by operatives from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and Department of Justice' Office of Cybercrime in the apartment unit that he was renting in Purok Dos, Cauayan town, Isabela.

The arrest was based on the search and seizure warrant issued by the Manila Regional Trial Court.

Salvador was arrested after the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) received a complaint from a major banking institution, which has been receiving complaints from credit card holders who were being charged for large sums even if they were not using their credit cards.

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The suspect admitted the accusations raised against him.

"Totoo po lahat, about po sa bank phishing page. Sa pagkuha po ng personal information," Christian said.

The credit card scam is done with the suspect selling account information of card holders for P5,000. There are also incidents wherein he uses the information to purchase items for himself.

The report stated that Christian conducts website penetration and phishing.

Phishing is is a form of fraud in which one tries to learn sensitive information such as password and bank details in order to use these to purchase items or steal money from card holders.

"Challenge lang din po kasi talaga eh, 'yun lang din po nagudyok sa akin. Then gusto ko lang po maapply 'yung knowledge ko sa IT kaya 'yun po, chinallenge ko po siya sa web hacking," he added.

Officials also conducted a search of his house and his newly purchased car.

The suspect's mother works as a domestic helper in Lebanon while his father is a baker.

Meanwhile, Salvador's father was disheartened on what happened to Christian.

"Pinag-aral ko ng maganda, pinalaki ko siya ng maganda. Matalino yan, sir. Katunayan nga sir nagsakripisyo kaming mag-asawa, nag-abroad 'yung asawa ko sir para mapag-aral lang namin sila ng maayos," Fred Salvador said.

Christian was later brought to the NBI office in Manila. He may face charges for violation of RA 8484 or Access Device Regulation Act of 1988 and RA 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.

His personal computer and laptop will be subjected to forensic examination for further investigation. — Anna Felicia Bajo/BAP, GMA News