Members of the Carbon Police Station tracked down and arrested a suspected member of an online scamming syndicate that targets jewelry sellers.
Arrest and Operation
The suspect was identified as Janet Brago, 28, a resident of Barangay Inayawan, Cebu City. She was arrested during a follow-up operation conducted by the Carbon Police on Sunday, May 10, 2026, in Barangay Inayawan.
The Fraud Incident
The victim, a jewelry business owner from Barangay Pahina Central, Cebu City, initially filed a complaint at the Carbon police station after a check issued by an online customer bounced. The customer had ordered jewelry worth P800,000.
According to the victim, who refused to be named, the suspect transacted through their Facebook page using the name Maben Theodore, claiming to be from Manila and interested in buying jewelry worth P800,000.
To gain the seller's trust, the suspect presented a check that was deposited into the victim's bank account on Thursday, May 7, 2026. The seller waited the standard two-day clearing period. Believing the payment was valid, the seller instructed their pawnshop staff to release the ordered assorted jewelry.
However, the victim discovered that no payment had been credited when they checked their online banking. They immediately called the pawnshop to hold the jewelry, but they were traveling by plane from Manila to Cebu at that time.
The victim's call arrived only 15 minutes too late; the jewelry had already been picked up by a rider booked through a delivery app.
Investigation and Arrest
The victim sought police assistance to trace who booked the rider. Brago was arrested at her home in Inayawan. The picked-up jewelry had been quickly shipped via courier by air, addressed to Maben Theodore as the receiver.
During investigation, Brago was reported to be a member of a large scam syndicate operating in the country, with numerous jewelry business owners as victims. Police also recovered one check booklet with three blank checks remaining.
Brago is also facing cases in Iloilo City, where she allegedly obtained jewelry worth P900,000, and in Davao, involving jewelry worth P700,000.
“That Maben Theodore is her boss; they are a syndicate because they have already victimized many,” the victim said.
Suspect's Denial
Brago denied involvement in the scam, claiming she was merely instructed by her boss, who is based in Manila, to deposit the check into the bank.
“I was just following orders. Because my boss is kind, I agreed since I was given money, though not a large amount,” Brago said.
