26 victims invest over P500,000 in cryptocurrency scam

Twenty-six individuals who invested a total of P504,000 in cryptocurrency ended being scammed as they tried to make a living amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

According to Nico Waje’s report on “Stand for Truth,” Ann only wanted to earn some money after losing her job due to the pandemic. She invested P50,000 of her savings in cryptocurrency.

“’Yung classmate ko po na nag-invite po sa akin, sabi niya nga po meron po silang grupo na binubuo po na sa cryptocurrency trading po kung saan may passive income nga daw po kaming- may dadating na passive income po sa amin,” Ann said.

Cryptocurrency is online money that can be used to buy products online such as clothing, appliances, or food. It may also be transferred anywhere and may be exchanged for any other kind of money.

Ann said that the scammers earned their trust as the dealings seemed legitimate where they procured a contract and held zoom meetings, among others.

“So ang pangako niya po sa amin, according po doon sa kontrata, in four months po makakatanggap po kami ng 10 to 15 percent ng ininvest po namin,” the victim said.

"Kunyari po, meron po akong P50,000 na investment tapos ‘yung interest po na binigay sakin is 10 percent, in four months po makakakuha po ako ng P5,000. And then sa 4th month po, ibabalik po ‘yung capital o investment ko na P50,000,” she later added.

RC, another victim, said that there were no problems for the first two months since they signed their contracts. He was also the one who urged Ann and other investors to join.

He said the suspect disappeared after July 31.

“Nagpakita po ng mga August 2 or 3, nagparamdam po siya. Doon po, nagsabi po siya na nawala daw po ‘yung cellphone at ‘yung mismong ATM. Tapos magsasabi po siya, magbabayad na lang daw po siya kasi hindi daw ho niya alam ‘yung gagawin, babalik na lang daw po capital,” RC said.

“Binigyan namin siya ng advice na mismong ibigay lang ‘yung phone number, email, atsaka ‘yung account mismo po sa exchanger na ginagamit niya kasi kaya naman po i-retrieve ‘yun kahit nawala ‘yung cellphone niya. Pero ang nangyayari kasi, mismong siya dine-deny niya,” he added.

Watch the video to know more. — Joahna Lei Casilao/DVM, GMA News