Philippine Airlines bares swindling syndicate

Philippine Airlines today warned the public and its suppliers in particular to be wary of a group of swindlers posing as PAL officers in an attempt to purchase high-value items from commercial establishments.

Recently, the group tried to dupe two electronics suppliers, one located at the SM Megamall in Mandaluyong City and the other in Malate, Manila, into delivering high-end digital cameras and laptop computers allegedly "ordered" by PAL.

Both attempts were foiled by PAL's security unit, in coordination with the Philippine National Police and the mall's security services.

The gang's modus operandi involves an initial telephone call to the supplier by a man with an elderly, Chinese-accented voice. He identifies himself as either George King, alleged to be PAL's vice president for purchasing, or Joeffrey Foronda, the supposed purchasing manager.

Both King and Foronda are indeed PAL officers, but neither holds the position titles the caller attributes to them.

Once the items have been ordered, the group then issues spurious PAL documents such as purchase orders, check vouchers and checks to cover the purchase. The items are then picked up by drivers from rental-car firms, whose services have been contracted legally and are unaware of their client's sinister motives.

According to the drivers, the person they always dealt with is a woman between 35 to 40 years old, standing about 5 feet 2 inches, with shoulder-length hair and brown complexion. Instead of collecting the items herself, the suspect always instructs the driver to do it and then meet her at a designated place to turn over the goods.

All transactions conducted by the fake Mr. King or Mr. Foronda are done via telephone number 818-5112, which when reached always emits a fax tone, or cellular phone number 0926-2687133, which is a prepaid line.

PAL is warning commercial establishments against entertaining calls fitting this pattern and asks them to immediately report such incidents to PAL Security at telephone numbers 852-6058 and 852-5891.