Filipina Scam Victim Warns Others On Fake Social Media Investment Offers

OFW

"Sarah", not her real name, said she was approached by a certain “Princess Polinar Micabalo” from Ozamiz City, whom she met at a group chat from social networking site Reahlity Hartz Hardships or Your Helping Hands Profit Sharing about a business opportunity.

“Mahilig po akong tumulong sa mahihirap. Ang kaso lang po, kung tutulong ako ng tutulong, mauubos ang savings ko and ang ganda ng usapan namin na magpapalago kami ng pera. Yung akin, ilalagay ko sa orphanage, siya naman ibibigay niya sa may sakit na hindi makabili ng wheelchair,” Sarah said on DZMM radio interview on Tuesday.

“March kami nagkakilala and ilang days kaming laging nagcha-chat, nagkakausap, nagvi-video call and then nahikayat akong mag invest. Very true siya kausap…i-invest [ang pera] sa palayan, sa palaisdaan, panagatan, lending and jewelries…nag invest ako.”

Sarah admitted she did not doubt Micabalo because she was very transparent, recalling that Micabalo even sent her two “valid” identification cards and a contract. The latter also posted her photos online, indicating she’s not hiding her identity.

Sarah was convinced into investing P180,000, believing that Micabalo and her investment proposal would double the seed money. A month after investing, Sarah received her payout worth P225,000, which prompted her to encourage her Japanese friends into joining her investment. The group eventually pooled an investment worth P1.2 million.

But once the money was turned over to Micabalo, Sarah has since not heard from her investment partner again. Micabalo’s accounts on social networking sites have also been deactivated.

Taking the high road, Sarah still delivered on her financial promise to her friends, honoring their trust on her.

“Hindi ko na po sinabing naloko ako. Basta kung ano yung promise ko sa kanila, ibinigay ko po. Binayaran ko. Ako kasi ang tumanggap ng pera. Sa Japan, di uso ang contract…yung trust. Matagal na nila akong friend. Trusted na nila ako pagdating sa pera kaya nagbigay sila agad sa akin,” she explained.

As it turned out, Sarah wasn’t the only victim. Sarah has since learned that Micabalo has been scamming people, especially Filipinos based abroad, using different investment names to entice people to invest.

Sarah isn’t certain if she’ll recover her investment money, but she went public to warn others to be wary of investment proposals that look too good to be true.

The radio program has invited the alleged scammer to air her side of the story.