Authorities arrest five individuals for targeting elderly woman in mall

• Five suspects were arrested in Sta. Cruz, Manila for allegedly defrauding an 83-year-old grandmother inside a mall
• The group lured the victim with a discounted milk offer but later attempted to take her jewelry inside a vehicle
• Alert mall security guards intervened after noticing the victim’s distress and stopped the suspects' getaway SUV
• Police investigation revealed that the suspects used fake money and plate number deflectors to carry out their operations

What started as a quiet walk in a mall turned into a nightmare for an 83-year-old grandmother in Sta. Cruz, Manila, on Tuesday, January 13, 2026. Fortunately, the quick thinking of mall security and the prompt arrival of the police led to the arrest of five individuals who allegedly targeted the elderly woman in a elaborate scheme.

According to authorities, the victim was walking alone when she was approached by one of the suspects. The individual offered her two cans of supposedly expensive milk for the low price of P5,000. Believing she had found a great bargain, the grandmother agreed to the deal and withdrew cash to pay for the items.

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However, the transaction took a dark turn. After handing over the money, the suspects led the victim to a waiting SUV. Once inside, they allegedly stopped talking about the milk and instead pressured her to hand over the jewelry she was wearing. To make their operation look legitimate, the group reportedly showed her bundles of fake money, claiming they had already sold many products to other customers.

The situation escalated when the suspects told the grandmother to step out of the vehicle. Feeling trapped and sensing something was wrong, the victim’s hesitation caught the attention of mall security guards. Sensing the tension, the guards immediately blocked the SUV and alerted the police.

Officers from the Santa Cruz Police Station arrived on the scene and arrested all five suspects. Investigators discovered that the group hailed from Bulacan, Cavite, and Pampanga. Surprisingly, two of the suspects are also senior citizens, aged 66. The investigation also revealed that the SUV used a deflector on its plate number to hide its identity, and one suspect even posed as a doctor to gain the victim's trust.

The suspects are now facing charges of swindling and estafa. Police records further showed that two of the individuals already had standing bench warrants for unjust vexation in Negros Oriental.

Protecting the elderly has become a priority for local authorities as "budol-budol" and other swindling groups often look for vulnerable targets in crowded public spaces. Mall management and police have since reminded the public, especially the youth, to ensure their elderly relatives are accompanied when going out or to remain vigilant against strangers offering deals that seem too good to be true.

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As authorities crack down on financial crimes, similar cases of fraud have recently led to arrests in other parts of the metro.

A woman was taken into custody after authorities served a warrant for her arrest related to a series of bouncing check violations. The suspect reportedly faced multiple complaints from individuals who claimed they were defrauded of significant amounts. Police emphasized that they are looking into other possible victims who may have been involved in the same scheme.

Quezon City police apprehended a female suspect allegedly involved in a multi-million peso investment scam. The operation followed several reports of the suspect issuing checks that were later dishonored by banks. Authorities are currently processing the legal documents to ensure the suspect faces the full weight of the Bouncing Checks Law.

Source: KAMI.com.gh