Cops Arrest 5 Individuals for Allegedly Scamming 83-Year-Old Grandmother in Manila
Five individuals were arrested in Sta. Cruz, Manila for allegedly scamming an 83-year-old grandmother.
On Tuesday, January 13, 2026, an elderly woman was walking alone inside a mall when one of the suspects approached her and offered two cans of what was claimed to be expensive milk for P5,000.
Authorities said that the price was much lower than the usual market value, which made the offer appear tempting and hard to refuse.
The elderly woman agreed and withdrew money to pay for the items believing it was a good deal. After handing over the cash, the suspects accompanied her to a waiting SUV. Instead of giving her the milk, the group allegedly began asking for the jewelry she was wearing.
The grandmother was even asked to step out of the vehicle. Feeling uneasy, she hesitated, and the tension caught the attention of mall security guards. Noticing the disturbance, the guards immediately stopped the SUV and alerted the authorities.
The authorities were able to arrest all five suspects before they could leave the area.
Police later revealed that two of the suspects are also senior citizens, both aged 66. Investigators found that the group came from Bulacan, Cavite, and Pampanga and had been deliberately targeting elderly individuals who were alone inside malls.
Two of the suspects were also discovered to have existing bench warrants for unjust vexation in Negros Oriental.
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Further investigation showed that the suspects used a deflector on the SUV’s plate number to avoid being easily identified. One of them even pretended to be a doctor to gain the trust of the victim.
suspects
are now detained at the Santa Cruz Police Station and will face charges of swindling and estafa. Police also urged other possible victims to come forward so additional cases can be filed, and similar incidents can be prevented.