PHNO-HT: CALL CENTER AGENT ARRESTED FOR FACEBOOK 'IDENTITY THEFT'

CALL CENTER AGENT ARRESTED FOR FACEBOOK 'IDENTITY
THEFT'

MANILA, APRIL 21, 2012 (ABS-CBN) A call center agent is facing
multiple charges after she was caught receiving money from an Australian man
whom she tricked through social networking site Facebook.
The suspect, identified as Louella Tan, allegedly created a fake Facebook
account using photographs of Fil-Norwegian commercial model Janka Cederstam.

Tan used the alias "Jen Matheson" on the site.
Cederstam said she received a call from an Australian who claimed that he met
"Matheson" through Facebook.
The Australian, whose identity was not revealed, said he often chatted online
with "Matheson" until she became his girlfriend.
He said the suspect had convinced him to send money to the Philippines
because the suspect claimed there is no one to support her financially as both
her parents are dead.
Identity theft
Cederstam immediately filed a complaint with the National Bureau of
Investigation (NBI) against the identity thief and a sting operation was set up.

Tan was arrested by the NBI Technical Investigation Division while she was
collecting the money sent by the Australian.
"Nag-create siya ng new account, binago ang name pero pinalitaw na same
person. Dahil maganda ang nasa picture, maraming nag-add as friends. Eventually
had a relationship with this Australian national. 'Yung Australian national
naman, believing na may online relationship sila, was enticed to send money via
Western Union dito sa Pilipinas," said Palmer Mallari, chief of the NIB's
Technical Investigation Division.
Tan said she was able to trace Cederstam's personal background through
Facebook.
"Itong anak ko inaalagaan ko ang reputasyon, pinaaral para magkaroon ng
magandang reputasyon, sa'yo lang masira?" Cederstam's mother told Tan following
her arrest.
NBI warned the public against identity theft common on social networking
sites.
"It is the act of stealing one's identity name, pictures, personal
circumstances. Tapos 'yung identity na ito gagamitin to commit crimes such as
estafa, extortion, libel, etcetera. Pero ang term na identity theft mismo 'di pa
na naka-define sa laws, hindi pa specifically krimen sa Pilipinas," said
Mallari.
Privacy settings
Mallari advised Facebook users to utilize the site's privacy settings to
prevent cases of identity theft.
"Kung pupuwede huwag ilagay ang totoong pictures, birthday mo, kung saan ka
nakatira, huwag mo rin ilagay ang mga activities mo doon because by doing this
lalo ka lang mago-open sa mga tao na may intensiyong lokohin ka," he said.
The site has customized privacy settings to allow users to hide vital
information from strangers.
On her Facebook page, Cederstam posted:
"It puts mine and my family's reputation at stake! I'll start deleting
'friends' on FB, will just keep those I'm actually close to as I see my photos
on different websites even though it is set on private. To all the posers out
there, stop doing what you're doing because you will get caught and brought to
JAIL, just like this chick who we tracked for 3 and a half weeks now."
Tan will face charges of estafa, violation of the E-Commerce Law and illegal
use of alias. -- Report from Maan Macapagal, ABS-CBN
News


Chief News Editor: Sol Jose Vanzi
© Copyright, 2012 by PHILIPPINE HEADLINE NEWS ONLINE
All
rights reserved




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