Authorities nab West African for alleged black dollar scam

Authorities arrested a West African national in Paranaque City for his alleged involvement in a so-called “black dollar scam.”

According to Marisol Abdurahman’s Monday report in “24 Oras,” Aly Camara was apprehended by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-National Capital Region (CIDG-NCR).

Police said the suspect would convince victims that sheets of black paper from other countries could be converted into dollars once a chemical solution was applied.

Jynleo Bautista, chief of the CIDG-NCR's Intelligence and Investigation Section, said Camara gained the trust of a female victim after making romantic overtures.

“They will approach the victim, befriend her, and then make her believe na magkakaroon sila ng romantic relationship, and then caring approach yung suspects up to the point na ma-inlove raw si girl,” Bautista said.

(They will approach the victim, befriend her, and then make her believe that they will have a romantic relationship. The suspect will care for the victim up to the point she will fall in love.)

The victim initially gave Camara P850,000 to as an initial payment and another P1.25 million for another transaction, Bautista added.

However, Camara denied the allegations.

“I have business here, a convenience store. No, I never make that (black dollar paper),” the suspect added.

The CIDG-NCR said they were still looking for Camara's two companions.

The police unit added that this scam involving foreigners was not a new scheme as Camara may be connected to other criminal syndicates. — Mel Matthew Doctor/DVM, GMA News