Credit card ‘skimmers’ arrested in Boracay

BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

Authorities arrested four persons including two women involved in alleged credit card fraud in Boracay Island on March 6.

                                                                  PHOTO BORACAY POLICE

The suspects were caught in a hot pursuit operation at Caticlan jetty port in Barangay Caticlan, Malay, Aklan at around 2:30 p.m. by operatives of Boracay Tourist Assistance Center (BTAC). 

Handheld skimming devices and a laptop believed used by the suspects in their illegal activities were seized during the operation.

The suspects were identified as Camela Cho Pahati from Sta. Cruz, Manila; Apol Cruz Buenaflor from Taguig, Manila; Reynald Merlan Bartolome from Mariveles, Bataan and Jose De Leon Marcelino, from Taguig, Manila.

Senior Police Officer 1 Christopher Mendoza, chief of BTAC’s police-community relations, said the suspects duped a popular disco bar in Barangay Balabag on March 3 by using three credit cards to pay their bills amounting to P8,188.98.

Mendoza said the suspects left the disco bar after their credit cards were declined. Another incident occurred in another disco bar on March 5 after the suspects ordered four bottles of champagne and food for P60,739.

Mendoza said “Bartolome used the name of Sebastian Lim. With the same modus operation, they paid their bills through credit cards and were able to pay in cash, P21,739.00.”

However, a local bank charged back the disco bar for P39,000 on March 6 for the fraudulent credit card transaction.

Police also seized assorted credit cards, five mobile phones and government identification cards from the suspects. They were detained at BTAC lock-up cells after their arrest.

Estafa charges and violations of Republic Act No. 8484 “An Act Regulating the Issuance and Use of Access Devices, Prohibiting Fraudulent Acts" were filed at Aklan Provincial Prosecutor’s Office on March 7.

The article was originally published by independent online blog Aklan Forum Journal. The unrestricted use in print or radio, publication and distribution of articles are allowed provided the original author and Aklan Forum Journal are credited.