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http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/-depth/04/20 ... tity-theft" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;




(Model whose pics were used on left, Biktima=victim, scammer on right)

MANILA, Philippines – 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.

If only it was this easy in other countries......

FWIW, a 'call center' job in the Philippines is a better than average job, there, and highly sought after....so she was not a poor, starving (Pics show her as chubby) disadvantaged lady.....

Another source for the same story with few more details:
http://everythinginbudget.blogspot.com/ ... alian.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

MANILA, Philippines – 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.

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.

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.

Well, at least they used a slightly better picture of the model, although, from what I saw of the model on other sites, her face isn't exactly her prominent feature.

I wonder if this is a mode we can exploit with some of the owners of stolen pics, where the money is picked up in the same country the person in the stolen pic is a resident of, or has some ties/influence with, and has some 'identity theft' criminal code? Sure would be lovely to have more scammers get a surprise at WU.

I just didn't understand - the model is also a pinay??? I thought she was from Norway.... how did she file a complaint in Philippines? how did she even know what and where to file, being a Norwegian???

As far as I can tell, she is half filipina, born in Norway. I don't know if she has dual citizenship, or not, or just sufficient connections in the Philippines to 'get stuff done'.

http://ikegube.com/?page_id=184" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I saw it on TV news...Yes, Cederstam is a Filipina, resides and works in Philippines though father is a Norwegian.

According to the report, when Hans de Kraker (Australian victim) discovered the true identity of alias "Jen Matheson" (Louella Tan) immediately contacted the true owner of the pictures and personal information used by the fraudster who is Janka Cederstam. Then Janka reported it to Phillippines NBI Technical Investigation (which is kinda equivalent to US FBI). With collaboration of NBI, Cederstam and de Kraker; the Australian still continued to communicate with Tan (with Tan being unaware that her scam has already been discovered) until finally de Kraker is to send money tru WU. It was not clear on the report if Tan gave de Kraker her address but the recipient's name on WU is Louella Tan. That was when Tan was arrested when she was collecting the money.

BTW, you're right Pete, call center agent is earning a little bit above the average wage earner and almost all of them are college grads too.

I met Louella Tan last April on a Filipina dating site (sorry I can not remember the name of the site) just before she got busted. Afterwards she started up wanting me to send at first $20.00 American which I did a couple of times for her daughter named Rhineheart Tan. Then she got where she wanted much more than that, even at one point asking me if she done a strip show online for me if I would send her the money, then after figuring that would not be enough for me to send her $80.00 she proceeded with putting on a "sex show" and telling me all these things she wanted to do to me if I would come there too. But when I said "NO!!!" she got mad at me and cussed me out. Afterwards from being broken hearted by that and learning the truth I went out of town for a few months, and for the first month her harassing me the entire time over the phone and online but luck it has stopped.