MANILA - Police on Monday raided a company in North Fairview, Quezon City after its officers and employees allegedly used fake identities and documents to apply for credit cards, and then maxing them out.

Chief Inspector Artemio Cinco Jnr, spokesperson of the Philippine National Police - Anti-Cybercrime Group, said the employees used fictitious names and addresses in applying for the credit cards.

The banks would then call the company, who would then vouch for the employees.

Some of the documents used to apply for the credit cards include fake financial statements, employment certificates, payslips, employment contract and personnel data.

4 employees of a bogus company allegedly involved in credit card fraud arrested by PNP-ACG. @ABSCBNNews @ANCALERTS pic.twitter.com/SoBSLRkzYL — Maan Macapagal (@maan_macapagal) May 7, 2018

“Kapag vinalidate dito sa kumpanya ang mga impormasyon na ibinigay nila sa bangko, sinasabi nila, 'Oo, empleyado namin 'yan. At 'yan 'yung kanyang impormasyon at meron talagang ganitong mga tao,'" Cinco said.

(When the information given to the bank is validated with the company, they would say 'Yes, that person is our employee and that is his information.')

However, when the billing statement arrives, "no such person will be around to pay for it", the official said.

"During the 3-month grace period after they reached their credit limit, no payment was received," Cinco said.

Even barangay officials would say no person with the given home address listed in the credit card statement exists.

"We validated if there really exists this address or this person who was issued a credit card. The barangay said that there exists no such address or person," Cinco said.

The official said the fake employees were given a high credit limit because of their fake financial statements.

“As of now 12 credit cards ang na-issue, na-max out nila," he said.

“May 26 applications pa na galing sa same company. Doon na naghinala ang mga bangko natin kaya lumapit sila sa amin para maimbestigahan,” he added.

(As of now, 12 credit cards have been issued and were maxed out. There were 26 more applications from the same company. That's when the banks started to have its doubts and they approached us to investigate the matter.)

PNP Anti Cybercrime Group has raided an office in Fairview, Quezon City where a company was created and bogus employees allegedly apply for credit cards and max them out. @ABSCBNNews @ANCALERTS pic.twitter.com/pPtnp3B6Hq — Maan Macapagal (@maan_macapagal) May 7, 2018

Cinco said they will investigate where the suspects got the names and other information they used to apply for the credit cards.

Authorities recovered various IDs bearing different names but showing only the same photo, fake BIR stamps used to fake income tax returns and new credit cards delivered by the banks.

At least one of the suspects admitted the employees themselves applied for the credit card.



Cinco advised the public to be careful in giving out personal information especially when filling out credit card application forms.

“Mag-ingat tayo lalo na yung mga pinapa-fill up sa atin, application form na binibigay sa atin. Tayo na rin ang nagbibigay ng opportunity para tayo ay mabiktima,” he said.

(Let's be careful especially with those forms we are asked to fill up. We are providing opportunities for us to be victimized.)

The 4 suspects will be charged with violation of Republic Act 8484 or the Access Devices Regulation Act of 1998.