THE Philippine National Police (PNP) presented on Tuesday, April 10, a couple who is allegedly behind a multi-million-peso bitcoin scam.
Dela Rosa said Arnel and Leonady Ordonio, 27, were arrested by the PNP-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) on April 4 after receiving complaints from over 50 persons.
He said based on the complaints, the couple, the registered owners of the NewG Bitcoin Philippines, has lured the victims to invest in their company with a promise of a maximum of 30 percent interest every 16 days.
“Liwanagin natin. Bitcoin is the presentation kasi bitcoin per se is recognized ng mga iba. This is a virtual currency. Ito sa presentation nung suspects hihihingi ng capital sa kanila, may upline, downline tapos may promise of return ng investment,” said CIDG director Roel Obusan.
“In fact 16 days lang. How much in 16 days 30 percent. Kung P1 million in 16 days may P300,000 ka na tubo so napakalaki. Sa una ibibigay n’ya muna, 1st at 2nd after that mawawala na sya. This is a simple case of estafa at pyramiding kasi meron silang upline, may downline,” he added.
(In 16 days, you earn P300,000 from an investment of P1 million. That is a lot of money. The investors receive dividends at first. Then the payments stop. This is a simple case of estafa and pyramiding because there is an upline and a downline.)
Marvin Maglunog, one of the victims of the couple, said he invested P90,000 and received P25,000 interest every 16 days which prompted him to entice his friends into joining the scheme, too.
However, he said they have not been able to contact Ordonio since December.
“’Yung mag-asawa na couple kung titingnan ninyo mag browse kayo sa YouTube meron ‘yung nandun sa YouTube nasa bahay bundle na tig 500 tapos na 2nd floor binabato nya ‘yung tig P500 (If you check out their video on YouTube, you would see bundles of P500 bills in their house). That's how they present themselves as earning so much by way of bitcoin pero hindi sya connected sa bitcoin. May prinepresent na company na NewG Philippines,” said Obusan.
The couple met some of the victims through social media. Dela Rosa said the couple amassed over P900 million from the victims. (SunStar Philippines)