A 68-year-old woman lost approximately P75,000 worth of jewelry after falling victim to a scam group in Barangay Punta Princesa, Cebu City. The victim, identified as Susan Senajon from Barangay Tisa, sought help from DYHP RMN Cebu after being duped by a group that asked for her assistance in going to a pharmacy.
How the Scam Unfolded
According to Senajon, she was coming from a lending company in Barangay Punta Princesa when a woman approached her while she was looking for a tricycle. The woman asked if she knew where St. Michael Pharmacy was, claiming her husband was sick and needed alkaline water. Senajon initially refused, but another woman later approached and convinced her to help, assuring her that they had a vehicle.
Senajon was then picked up by a white Toyota Corolla. Inside, two men sat in the front, while two women sat in the back with her. During the ride, the suspects touched her hands and engaged her in conversation, asking if she had more jewelry at home besides what she was wearing. Senajon confirmed this, and the group instructed her to go home and retrieve her jewelry to show them.
Items Stolen
The victim handed over her wedding ring, six other rings, a necklace, and a pair of earrings. The suspects placed the jewelry in a ziplock bag along with bundled money, then put everything in a brown envelope. They dropped Senajon off near a church in Barangay Punta and told her to wait at a fast food chain while they bought water. However, they never returned.
Aftermath
When Senajon finally went home, she opened the envelope and found only two rolled pieces of grade four paper held together by a rubber band. She had no choice but to cry over her lost jewelry. Authorities have previously warned the public about scammers taking advantage of the crisis situation in the country.
