An individual posing as a parish priest was arrested after allegedly running an online donation scam that exploited religious trust to solicit money from unsuspecting victims, according to the National Bureau of Investigation.
The suspect was arrested during an entrapment operation in Naga City, where authorities recovered marked money and confiscated the mobile device allegedly used to carry out the scheme. Investigators said the suspect used the name and photographs of a real member of the clergy to deceive acquaintances into sending financial contributions online.
“The investigation was launched following a complaint from a member of the clergy, whose name and photograph were used to deceive acquaintances into sending funds,” the bureau said in a statement. NBI agents also traced the transactions to a mobile wallet account linked to the suspect.
Authorities said the suspect is facing complaints related to identity theft and estafa, citing evidence that showed a deliberate effort to assume a religious identity to gain credibility and access to donations.
NBI Acting Director Angelito Magno warned the public against falling for online appeals that rely on impersonation or emotional pressure. “We will not allow criminals to exploit the trust and goodwill of the public through fake online identities,” he said.
“The NBI remains steadfast in its commitment to pursuing cyber fraudsters and protecting our communities,” Magno added, urging the public to report suspicious online fundraising activities to authorities.
