Two former Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) employees were arrested for allegedly selling counterfeit banknotes online, announced the Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP ACG) on Friday.
In a press briefing in Camp Crame, PNP ACG Director PBGEN Bernard Yang identified the suspects as alias “Agila,” 30, and alias “Usa,” 18. The two were caught during an entrapment operation, as reported by RH 52 Edniel Parrosa.
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) had reached out to the police regarding the rampant sale of fake banknotes on social media, which the ACG confirmed during cyber patrols.
The group found that the cost of each fake ₱1,000 bill was only ₱150. The entrapment operation yielded 150 pieces of forged thousand-peso bills.
Yang assured that the police have a lead as to the group who may be behind these transactions.
Moreover, BSP Payment Investigation Officer Atty. Mark Fajardo stressed that counterfeit money poses a threat to small businesses and the country’s inflation rate.
“Nagkakaroon kasi ng unauthorized number o suplay ng pera na kumakalat. (Dahil dito) ang ekonomiya, tataas ang bilihin,” he explained.
(There is an unauthorized number or supply of money being spread out, which will cause an increase in prices.)
The suspects have been charged for the illegal possession and use of false treasury or banknotes, and violation of the Cybercrime Prevention Act.
