College Student Scammed by Fake Delivery Rider in Manila, Loses Gadget Worth P18,000
A college student in Sta. Ana, Manila lost a digital tablet worth P18,000 to a scammer posing as a delivery app rider.
On January 22, 2025, the 19-year-old victim listed the second-hand gadget for sale on an online marketplace. He is hoping to use the money from the sale to pay for tuition.
A buyer reached out via messaging app and insisted on booking the delivery rider himself. He asked for the seller’s contact details and address, claiming it was for the transaction. To gain trust, the scammer even made a video call, knowing the student had been scammed before.
A rider soon arrived at the pick-up location in Sta. Ana. The buyer told the student that the package was being sent to Marikina. CCTV footage captured the rider on a scooter, looking around before taking the package and leaving.
The buyer had promised to send the payment once the item was on its way, but after the rider left, the victim noticed the buyer was no longer responding.
“Sabi po sa ‘kin ni rider na babayaran niya po yung item once na nakaalis na po siya. Pero ang nangyari, nung nakaalis na po siya, yung rider, bigla na pong parang di na po masyado nagcha-chat sa akin si suspek pero nag-usap po kami ni rider,” the victim said.
Checking the app’s delivery tracking, the student saw that the package was now in Binangonan, Rizal. Realizing something was wrong, he messaged the rider to cancel the delivery and return the gadget.
The rider claimed he needed gas money to return, so the student sent P400. However, after receiving the money, the rider stopped responding.
Seeking help, the student reported the scam to the barangay. Officials investigated the rider’s listed address, only to discover that the person in the license photo never left his house. This led them to suspect fraud.
In another post, a lady netizen shares horrifying experience w/ fake delivery rider
After posting about the scam online, the student learned that others had fallen victim to the same scheme. It also became clear that the “rider” and “buyer” were the same person. Authorities are now tracking the scammer, while barangay officials remind the public to be cautious in online transactions.
The social media users expressed their reactions to the incident:
