3 suspects nabbed for selling Globe LTE modems

THREE suspects were arrested in Taguig City for the illegal sale of Globe Telecom Inc.’s long-term evolution (LTE) modems, the company said.

During a recent buy-bust operation conducted by a joint Taguig police and Globe security team, Nestor Piga, a 24-year-old technician, and Marvin de la Rosa, 26, were arrested for the illegal sale of the modems.

Separately, Regine Punto, 31, a freelance computer technician, was also arrested in Quezon City.

The entrapment operation was based on a list of online sellers of Globe LTE modems.

The suspects agreed to meet police personnel, posing as buyers in online marketplace olx.ph.

Piga and de la Rosa were believed to be engaged in a modus operandi that involves retrieval of LTE modems from legitimate customers on pretext of an upgrade or repair.

The modems are then reconfigured and sold at a one-time cost payment in popular social online buy-and-sell sites, such as OLX and even social-networking sites, such as Facebook. Police recovered from the suspects one unit of Globe LTE modem, two units of Globe Super Home phone and one LTE antenna.

Items recovered from Punto included two units of Globe LTE modems, two units of LTE antenna, and other related items.

Appropriate criminal charges were filed against the three suspects.

Globe Telecom’s intensified campaign versus fraudsters is intended to protect its customers from illegal activities, involving its products and services.

“We appeal to customers to entertain offers of various Globe products and services only from those coming from legitimate agents,” Globe Senior Director for Security and Anti-Fraud and Investigation Division Ronald Uychutin said.

He said the company will continue to work closely with police authorities in pursuing fraudsters.

The company’s campaign against fraudsters complements an online advocacy of the telecommunications provider for its customers to step up their online vigilance so they can better protect themselves from becoming victims of online hacks, identify theft and other cybercrimes.