P1.5M worth of shoes stolen after alleged hacking of delivery app; 5 arrested

Five suspects were arrested after allegedly stealing P1.5 million worth of shoes for delivery via an app.

The suspects however said they only carried the boxes of shoes, according to an exclusive report by Bea Pinlac on Unang Balita on Monday.

Police said a seller in Manila booked a truck via a delivery app to bring 60 boxes of shoes to Pasay City.

"Later on nagulat siya nang naka-receive siya ng cancellation details. Pero na-receive niya (driver) 'yung mga parcel. Nakuha na 'yung 60 boxes ng sapatos bago siya (seller) maka-receive ng cancellation details," Palanca Police Community Precinct - Manila commander Police Lieutenant Carl Mupas said.

(Later on, the seller was surprised to receive cancellation details. But the driver received the parcel (for delivery). The 60 boxes of shoes were already picked up before the seller received cancellation details.)

The drop-off point was also suddenly changed on the app from Pasay City to Las Piñas City.

The seller then had their logbook at their warehouse checked to get details on the driver who picked up the goods.

Police then tracked the driver, who cooperated with them, Mupas said.

"Nag-cooperate naman siya kasi kahit siya mismo, nagtataka kasi medyo alanganin 'yung lugar na pagbababaan niya," he said.

(He cooperated because even he himself was wondering since the drop-off point seemed unusual.)

The driver then told police in good faith where he dropped off the goods.

Police went to the area but they were able to recover only P200,000 worth of shoes.

The other items may already have been possibly sold after a van supposedly picked them up, police said.

Police arrested five individuals including the sibling of the supposed hacker.

"Under investigation pa rin kung paano nangyari 'yung gano'n na biglang nagbago ang rider at 'yung drop-off location. Patuloy pa rin nating hinahanap 'yung pinaka mastermind, 'yung hacker, na sinasabing kapatid ng isa sa mga nahuli natin," Mupas said.

(It's still under investigation to find out how the rider and drop-off point were changed. We are also on the manhunt for the mastermind, the hacker, who is reportedly the sibling of one of the arrested suspects.)

Meanwhile, the suspects said they did not know where the goods came from and that they only carried the items. One of them however said he was not in the area and did not carry any box. Another one said he thought the goods were already paid for.

The suspects were charged with estafa related to the Cybercrime Prevention Act.

Police advised the public to check the details of their booking in delivery apps, including information on the rider or driver to avoid being victimized.

GMA Integrated News is trying to get a statement from the delivery app. —KG, GMA Integrated News