THE National Bureau of Investigation’s Cybercrime Division (NBI-CCD) conducted successful operations leading to the arrest of two individuals engaged in the illicit sale of Shopee Pay and Paymaya accounts.
The apprehensions took place in the cities of Bacoor and Las Piñas.
The suspects have been identified as Lyra Espiritu and Jonarcel Manalo, who were apprehended during a meticulously planned entrapment operation.
They now face charges under Republic Act No. 8484 (Access Devices Regulation Act of 2012) and R.A. 11934 (SIM Registration Act), in connection with the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.
The separate operations were initiated based on credible intelligence suggesting that certain Facebook accounts were facilitating the sale of Shopee Pay and Paymaya accounts paired with registered SIM cards, suspected to be employed for fraudulent activities, including online scams.
Undercover agents from the NBI-CCD effectively established communication with the administrators of the implicated Facebook accounts.
They successfully placed an order for 50 Shopee Pay accounts, each bundled with a registered SIM card, from the Facebook account linked to suspect Espiritu. The transaction was priced at Php800.00.
Furthermore, another NBI-CCD team managed to procure 30 Paymaya accounts, accompanied by registered SIM cards, from the Facebook account associated with suspect Torres. The agreed price for this transaction was Php600.00.
Following their apprehension, Espiritu was brought before the Las Piñas Prosecutor’s Office for inquest proceedings, while Torres faced the Office of the City Prosecutor in Bacoor City.
The NBI-CCD remains committed to combatting cybercrime and protecting the public from fraudulent activities involving digital payment platforms.
metrosundaily
