Woman arrested for allegedly swindling store owner of P7,500 in Ilocos Sur

A 50-year-old woman was arrested after allegedly deceiving a store owner into transferring P7,500 through a mobile transaction before attempting to flee in Sinait, Ilocos Sur, on October 16.

Police said the incident occurred at around 5:15 p.m. while the 31-year-old businesswoman was attending to her store when the suspect, who allegedly pretended to be a customer, requested a cash-in transaction worth P7,500 to a mobile number.

After the victim processed the transaction and showed the confirmation to the suspect, the latter allegedly attempted to leave but was intercepted.

When confronted and asked to pay the amount, the suspect reportedly admitted that she did not have the money to settle the transaction.

The victim, accompanied by relatives, brought the suspect to the Sinait Municipal Police Station and sought police assistance for the filing of appropriate charges.

Authorities identified the suspect as a married woman who is a resident of Tondo, Manila, but is currently staying in Sinait, Ilocos Sur.

Police also recovered from the suspect a counterfeit P1,000 bill.

The suspect was informed of the offense attributed to her and apprised of her constitutional rights in a language she understood. She was subsequently brought to the Sinait District Hospital for a medico-legal examination.

Police are preparing the appropriate charges in connection with the alleged swindling incident.