Swindler ‘hypnotizes’ woman, takes P200,000

CEBU CITY – A 31-year-old woman lost more than P200,000 in cash and valuables to an alleged swindler in Barangay Tayud, Consolacion, Cebu last Friday.

Christina Pepito, who reported the incident to the town police, was still bewildered as to how she lost her cash and valuables to the female swindler.

“Mura kuno siya og gi (It was as if she was) hypnotized,” said Police Officer 1 Baltazar Francisco of the Consolacion Police Station.

Pepito said she had just sold scrap metals when she met the culprit on the road in Sitio Bagakay. The woman, Pepito said, started talking to her.

For no reason, Pepito said she gave her cash and valuables to the woman, whom she failed to identify.

Pepito said she lost her P48,000 cash, four gold necklaces worth P88,000, two gold bracelets worth P15,000, four gold rings worth P20,000, three pairs of gold earrings worth P15,000, three silver necklaces worth P15,000, two pairs of earrings worth P1,500, a wedding ring worth P2,000, a cellular phone worth P2,200, and grocery items worth P1,500.

The police are still conducting a follow-up investigation to identify the woman and file charges against her.

Last Wednesday, a 24-year-old Japanese national was also victimized by a female swindler. She lost her cash and four cellular phones, estimated to be about P160,000.

Rizako Takahashi, 24, reported the incident to the Theft and Robbery Section (TRS) of the Cebu City Police Office.

She said she was walking when a woman approached and befriended her. Takahashi, however, could not tell the exact location where the alleged swindling took place.

The woman reportedly persuaded Takahashi to play a card game with her.

The woman, however, tricked Takahashi and took her money and cellular phones.

The TRS said they have received reports of foreigners being tricked by a woman who uses card games.

They said they are looking into the matter. (DSM/JBT of Sun.Star Cebu)