‘Sorceress’ makes OFW’s P1 million disappear in online scam

An overseas Filipino worker (OFW) lost over P1 million to an online scam that entices victims to buy items from alleged healers and fortune tellers.

In John Consulta’s report on “24 Oras”, victim Faye (not her real name) said she had spent more than P1 million on products offered by a “sorceress” she met online for over a year.

“’Yung yung sinasabi niya kasi nga may protection… Na in case raw po sa kulam, gayuma... Masakit po sa masakit. Nagtiwala ka and everything tapos ikaw pa 'yung... Nanakot pa po sila,” Faye said.

(She told me it is for my protection… against spells. I never suspected the seller to be a scammer. I was hurt. I trusted her and everything…they were even threatening me.)

Another victim, Elvie (not her real name), echoed Faye’s remarks and said she paid around P60,000 for such items including stones, amulets, potions, and dolls.

Elvie said she was beguiled into buying from the suspect after the latter promised to help resolve her family woes.

“Nahulog lang ako kasi parang lahat ng mga charms na sinasabi niya, mga rituals, gawin mo to. Hanggang sa na ano ko na lang naubos na yung pera ko sa tatlong bangko ko na naipon,” she said.

(I only believed what she told me because she was instructing me to do these rituals, buy these charms. Until I realized that I had spent my savings in three banks.)

According to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), the online sellers who victimized Elvie and Faye only posed to be “sorceresses” to sell their items.

“Nagsisimula engagements nila sa would be victims using itong mga popular social media sites. And then may mga online sites din silang ibinabato kung nasaan nandoon yung mga, basically mga scam items na ibebenta nila,” NBI Cybercrime Division Chief Supervising Agent Chris Pas said.

(Their engagements with their would-be victims start on popular social media sites. And then they will provide a site where their scam items are being offered.)

Pas said the agency would coordinate with the involved social media sites to identify the suspects and stop such scams on the platforms.

“Magkakaroon tayo ng pakikipag-ugnayan sa mga social media sites na ginagamit nila para makuha natin. Magkakaroon tayo ng requests for preservation ng digital evidence and of course, immediate deletion. Itong mga bogus na profile page nito,” he said.

(We will coordinate with the social media sites. We will request for the preservation of digital evidence and of course, the immediate deletion of these bogus profile pages.)

“Maging mapanuri tayo dahil naglipana po ang mga scammers online. And again, sinasamantala po nila yung kahinaan ng mga would be victims nila para magtake advantage,” he added.

(We should be vigilant of scammers online. And again, these scammers are only taking advantage of the weaknesses of their victims.) —Sherylin Untalan/NB, GMA News