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Cyber-recruiter victimizing nurses arrested in Manila


MANILA, Philippines — A fraudster using the Internet to offer non-existent nursing jobs in London was finally arrested while claiming money deposited by one of his victims at a pawnshop in Manila. The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) said Wilfredo Isaac, 35, used spoofed e-mails to hook in several victims, having them transfer money to him through their mobile phones. Interestingly, Isaac, a resident of 133 Lot 15, Shihanok Village, Coral Bells in Las Piñas City, is a registered nurse himself, the NBI said in its website (www.nbi.gov.ph) Friday. A composite team from the NBI and Anti-Money Laundering Council arrested him at a pawnshop along F.B. Harrison in Manila Thursday while claiming money from a G-Cash outlet. Members of the arresting team were armed with an arrest warrant issued by the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 30 for illegal recruitment and estafa (fraud). NBI Anti-Fraud and Computer Crimes Division head Vicente de Guzman III said the case against Isaac stemmed from complaints lodged by victim nurses. Investigation showed Isaac would entice prospective nurses to work in London by sending them e-mails to apply for overseas employment. The prospective victims would be informed they must first attend a "British Language Seminar" allegedly sponsored by Homewatch Caregiver International and the National Council for Appliative Care. Also, the prospective nurses were told to seek a coordinator for the seminar and pay P2,500 to P6,000 through bank ATM cards, G-Cash wallet and Smart Padala. Further investigation also showed Isaac used several mobile phone subscriber identity module (SIM) cards to register fictitious G-Cash accounts. "The money is transferred from one registrant to another until it reaches the last one who would withdraw the money at the Smart or G-Cash or at their accredited outlets," the NBI said. Investigation also showed the G-Cash system had blocked his initial G-Cash account after Globe Telecom received complaints from his victims. He then set up fake accounts using names like Paul Almanza Sauer and Cyrus Ramos Villanueva. When NBI and AMLC agents arrested Isaac, they found in his possession several IDs with different names but with the same photos. They also seized from him several SIM cards of Globe and PLDT prepaid wireless cards, bank checkbooks, Social Security System IDs, and mobile phones. Isaac now faces charges of using fictitious names, falsification, and violation of the Anti-Money Laundering Act. He is now detained at the NBI jail. - GMANews.TV
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