Love scam: A Nigerian was arrested after a woman, whom he made fall in love with him, complained, saying he asked her for a large of money to release the package allegedly containing $30,000 he sent her.
John Consulta reported on GMA News “24 Oras” on Thursday that the suspect was identified as Kelechik Opabi, who was arrested in an entrapment operation launched by operatives of the Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group (ACG) 4-A.
According to the victim, she met the suspect online and fell in love with a foreigner who used a fake Instagram account and a photo of another person.
“May care po ‘yung mga chat niya sa akin. Kinuha po niya ‘yung loob ko, kinaibigan. Then, nagpakilala din po siya sa akin as civil engineer,” the victim said.
(His chat made me feel he cared for me. He made me his friend. Then he introduced himself as a civil engineer.)
The suspect then allegedly told the victim that he would send some luggage containing expensive jewelry, but she had to give him $800 for it to be delivered.
After making the deposit, someone called the victim who identified himself as a delivery courier and said that he had a problem with the luggage and could not be released at customs because it allegedly included $30,000 that was not declared.
Also read: Customs want against ‘love scam’ amid pandemic
“Hindi basta-bata ma-release ‘yung parcel gawa ng may nakitang item doon sa package na hindi naman na-declare,” said Police Colonel Julius Suriben, PNP ACG-4A chief.
(The parcel cannot be released because an item found in the package was not declared.)
“Its money amounting to $30,000. Ang sabi din ng victim, hinihingan siya ng taga customs ng P150,000 para hindi na siya kasuhan. Ang sabi ng suspek, sige I will pay half, P75,000 daw ang manggagaling sa suspek at sabi naman ni victim, sige akin na rin ‘yung P75,000 para makuha ko na,” added Suriben.
(The victim also said that the customs officer demanded him P150,000 so that he would not be charged. The suspect said, okay, I will pay half, P75,000 will come from the suspect, and the victim said, okay, I also have the P75,000 so that I can get.)
However, the victim allegedly suspected that her online boyfriend and the self-proclaimed courier were colluding, so she reported it to the authorities.
It was found out that the Nigerian was arrested in 2018 for black dollar scam but was released and moved to the love scam.