Police arrest suspect in ‘rentangay’ scam

Authorities have arrested a man in Pasay City for allegedly stealing a car using the "rentangay" scam.

According to Emil Sumangil's report on "24 Oras," one of the victims is a retired Overseas Filipino Worker who had saved up for a car. They entrusted it to the suspect, Randy Lerum alias Ralph Gatdula.

“Sabi niya, 'Pwede ko ipasok yang sasakyan niyo para iparenta.' Sa umpisa po, nirentahan po ng tatlong araw, sa tatlong araw po na ‘yun nagpakitang gilas si Ralph, binigay niya po ng buo yun kaya po yung asawa ko na-engganyo na iparenta nang buo,” the victim said.

The suspect paid them in cash for one month's rent, but did not return the car. 

When they reached out to the agency he said he worked for, they were told he was not an employee.

Another victim said she communicated with Lerum through Facebook. She and her brother, a returning OFW, agreed to buy a van from him. 

After a few days, they received a call from the van's owner and said that the suspect had stolen the van from him, so they immediately gave it back.

“Nang nag-search ako sa FB lumabasa sa feed na, be aware, eto scammer ito, ‘yun po. Napa-upo na lang ako. Yung pera na ‘yon pinagipinan ng kapatid ko na construction worker sa ibang bansa. Sobrang stress, nakaka-trauma. Grabe yung effect sa amin,” the victim said.

The suspect was arrested for estafa and carnapping.

“Kung ito ay secondhand, dapat hanapin natin, unang una, yung original OR/CR, valid ID ng registered owner, at pinaka importante pumunta tayo sa ating himpilan sa Highway Patrol Group. Sa mga nagpaparenta naman po ay dapat kilalanin natin yung mga nagpapa-renta,” Police Senior Master Sergeant Jefferson Cabuloy of PNP Highway Patrol Group - Cavite, warned. — Sherylin Untalan/BM, GMA Integrated News