MANILA – Authorities urged the public anew to report incidents of credit card fraud following the arrest of a balikbayan engaged in making fake credit and ATM cards using stolen private information.
National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Cyber Crime Division chief, lawyer Victor T. Lorenzo on Tuesday presented the suspect, Gerard Joseph Liwag, who was arrested on Oct. 9 inside a condominium unit in Bonifacio Global City and yielded a number of fake debit, credit and ATM cards.
Lorenzo said a number of banks, both local and international, have sought NBI assistance on the proliferation of the fake cards.
Also seized during the search were two black matchbox sized devices described by the NBI as “skimmers”.
NBI spokesman, lawyer Ferdinand Lavin, said the devices have a card swiping slot which can record the data from legitimate credit cards.
The legitimate cards are swiped by co-conspirators in call centers and in establishments where the cards are used.
After recovering the devices, the saved data can be retrieved and then placed in other cards for use in other establishments.
Lorenzo said the fraudulent cards were then used to purchase premium brand products such as bags and clothing.
Aside from the skimming devices a search on the condo unit of Liwag resulted in the seizure of a Hi-Touch Imaging Technology Innovation (HITI) card printer, embossing machine, high definition printer, point of sale terminal, and blank cards.
Liwag was arrested following an arrest order issued by the Pasig Regional Trial Court Branch 160.
He is facing charges of violation of Republic Act 8484 (Access Device Regulation Act of 1998) in relation to Republic Act No. 10175 otherwise known as the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012. ( Benjamin Pulta/PNA)
