Plot twist: Scam victim files cyberlibel rap, walks out as suspected scammer

By TechWatch PH Staff

The case flipped faster than a Netflix series cliffhanger. A woman who went to Cybercrime investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) to press cyberlibel charges ended up tagged as the brains behind a ₱600,000 scam—making her “victim card” instantly change.

Investigators said the woman, accompanied by a male companion, initially claimed she was a victim of online harassment.

She told authorities she was being threatened and defamed by people who had posted against her on social media.

But during the course of the inquiry, investigators uncovered inconsistencies in her statements.

A closer look revealed that the complainant was actually behind an investment scheme.

The operation followed a pyramid-style setup, with money from new investors being used to pay earlier ones. When the funds ran out, payouts stopped, prompting angry victims to post about their losses online.

“She came forward as a complainant for cyberlibel. But upon investigation, it turned out the very people she accused of defaming her were actually her investors demanding their money back,” an investigator explained.

Authorities estimate that between P500,000 and P600,000 were involved, though the number of affected individuals could be higher.

”CICC is not a joke time. The CICC is equipped with skilled investigators who can spot the loopholes in your testimonies,” Digital Pinoy Founder Ronald Gustilo said.

Victims have since accused the woman and her companion of fraud, with police now holding them under investigation.

Scam Watch Pilipinas, meanwhile, reminded the public to stay vigilant against investment scams and to promptly report cyber complaints through the national digital hotline 1326.

“Scam Watch Pilipinas reiterates the importance of reporting to the national hotline 1326, since the data from these reports become leads for law enforcers to launch operations that eventually lead to the capture of big scam hubs and uncover new scam schemes,” said Scam Watch Pilipinas co-founder Jocel de Guzman.

Officials warned that this case highlights the risks of “too good to be true” online investments and the lengths perpetrators may go to hide their involvement once schemes collapse.

(The Scam Watch Pilipinas and TechWatch PH are both powered by Truth360 Inc.)