THE region’s Anti-Cybercrime Group (IDC) arrested Tuesday a person suspected of engaging in fraud by allegedly targeting people who go online looking for work.
One of the modus operandi or methods of operation used by the suspect was posting a job hiring at misorjobs.com, a website that offers employment opportunities within Misamis Oriental and Cagayan de Oro areas.
The item “Roving Merchandiser” posted by IDC Manpower Services, Inc. on the online site lured Desei Jean Vale of Mabolo, Barangay Carmen, to click the webpage and tried her luck.
After reading the qualifications, Vale then sent her application to the email address specified below the webpage where the hiring was posted.
After a few hours of sending her application, Vale received a reply from Fabre who identified himself as “Kuya Rod” through text message that he and Vale could fill out the application form in person. They agreed for a meet-up at a store in Barangay Carmen on August 11.
Inspector Janice Peniola, ACG-10’s deputy chief, said the suspect, Jaysone Fabre, 31, of Barangay Macabalan, denied the allegations when caught by law enforcers, but later admitted he is involved in the alleged online scam.
Fabre was also known as “Sharono Bacon” based on the identification card found in his possession.
Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro accessed the website misorjob.com Tuesday afternoon and found out that the job hiring, which appears to be legitimate, was still posted.
Based on the posting dated August 9, 2014, the qualifications for the Roving Merchandiser position are as follows: “Female, 18 to 28 years old, with pleasing personality, at least college level, with at least 1 year of Merchandising experience or retail, Honest and Goal-Driven, Handling Skills Soft Selling Skills, Flexible to work on shifting/graveyard schedule, To start working in August 2014 knowledgeable in MS word/MS Excel, 3 positions available.”
In misorjobs.com “About” page its editor and senior writer Ninah wrote, “originally envisioned as a website for jobseekers.”
Vale told investigators that Fabre texted his description, the color of the clothes he was wearing and indicated that he was carrying a bag containing a netbook, a small laptop computer.
When Vale was in the middle of filling out the papers, Fabre borrowed her cellphone since his phone was low on battery to call up his company’s HR department in Cebu.
Vale didn’t mind it, but when Fabre didn’t come back a few hours later, she looked through the bag he left and discovered it contained heaps of papers and cartons. There wasn't any netbook inside.
She tried calling Fabre’s number, but failed to contact him.
The incident prompted Vale to go to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), which then referred her case to the ACG-10.
After coordinating with the ACG-10, Vale got in touch with a friend, Nanet Gantalao, and told her to pretend to apply at the same website.
When Gantalao sent in her application, she received a reply from Fabre. Vale noticed that what Fabre told her were the same things he told Gantalao.
Gantalao agreed to meet with Fabre at a restaurant in Agora, Barangay Lapasan Tuesday.
Unknown to Fabre, it was an ACG-10 operative who met him while Vale was inside a vehicle parked outside the food establishment waiting to confirm once she sighted the suspect.
When Vale confirmed that Fabre had entered the restaurant, the ACG-10 agents then arrested him.
Taken from the suspect’s possession was a Nokia 1600 cellphone, a sachet of a substance believed to be shabu, and various alleged illegal drug paraphernalia.
Peniola said they will verify the contents of the cellphone, especially the text messages that might help ACG-10 identify Fabre’s companions.
From the intelligence reports gathered by ACG-10 and are still verifying, Peniola said Fabre may be a part of the syndicate estafa gang operating in Mindanao.
ACG-10 has also learned that the syndicate group is planning on launching a wide scamming activity by participating in a job fair during the city’s annual fiesta, Peniola said, adding that they (syndicate members) are on the process of building up a profile of the group.
Peniola said they will charge Fabre with violation of RA 10175, the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012, specifically on online fraud or spam, since the suspect used the internet for his alleged fraudulent online transactions.
The suspect’s cellphone containing the exchanges of text messages between him and his victims and possibly his associates can also be used an accessory that would prove he committed an RA 10175 violation.
And since Fabre had in his possession the suspected illegal substance, he would probably be charged with violating RA 9165, also known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
Peniola said Fabre admitted that Vale was his first victim. Per ACG-10 files, he doesn’t have previous records with the anti-cybercrime group.
“Bago pa raw siya (He’s still new at this),” Peniola added.
In an interview with this paper Tuesday evening, Vale will push through with the filing of the charges against Fabre.
“Di nako gusto naa pa siya lain ma-biktima (I don’t want him to pick on others),” Vale said.