The Philippine National Police–Highway Patrol Group (PNP-HPG) has raised alarm over the emergence of new car theft and fraudulent vehicle schemes.
HPG Negros Oriental chief, Police Executive Master Sergeant Aurelio Bodo, said that criminal syndicates have adapted to modern technology and are exploiting unsuspecting victims through online platforms and falsified documents.
At the recent Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) meeting at Camp Maringal, Bodo explained that traditional car theft methods, such as forcibly stopping or stealing unattended vehicles, have declined due to the introduction of immobilizers and chip-based keys.
Syndicates, however, have shifted to more sophisticated schemes, including the ‘pasalo-benta-bawi’ or assume balance scam operation, which involves acquiring vehicles from owners struggling with loan payments and reselling them with falsified documents.
The HPG official warned that unsuspecting buyers often fall victim to these fraudulent transactions.
“The process is step-by-step to make the papers appear legitimate. When verified at the Land Transportation Office, the entries look correct, but the registered owner is not the same,” said Bodo.
Another scheme, dubbed the ‘labas casa talon’ scheme, using a fictitious name, involves collusion with human resources (HR) departments of private companies, particularly call centers, to confirm fictitious employment for car loan applicants.
Under this scheme, syndicates secure loans from multiple banks using fake identities, acquire vehicles, and immediately sell them without paying amortization.
Bodo said the most prevalent scheme in Negros Oriental, however, is the ‘rent-tangay-sangla’ modus.
In February, the police recovered six rented motor vehicles linked to a suspect, who rented cars from multiple owners and pawned them online using falsified certificates of registration.
“Two of the victims were members of the PNP, while another was a retired government official who lost his retirement savings after investing in pawned vehicles,” Bodo said.
Authorities revealed that falsified documents, including certificates of registration and official receipts, were produced for as little as P500 each.
These were then used to make it appear that the suspect was the first owner of the vehicles, further deceiving buyers and lenders.
The HPG emphasized that these schemes not only defraud individuals but also contribute to rising road crash incidents, as many of the vehicles involved are improperly registered and maintained.
In the first two months of this year, the HPG recorded a 32.39 percent increase in road crash incidents in the province.
Given the incidence of car theft and other fraudulent schemes, the HPG urges the public to exercise caution, especially when engaging in online vehicle transactions, and to verify documents directly with the LTO to avoid these criminal activities. | PIA
