2 Nabbed for Multi Million-Peso Investment Scam Using Crypto

Anthony Olamit Bersaluna and his companion were arrested in an entrapment operation last Saturday in Pasay City.

Bersaluna, together with company secretary Mary Sweet Elipano, were allegedly involved in a multimillion-peso investment scam using cryptocurrency. Both worked under Big Dreams International (BDI) and BDI Product Trading OPC.

According to Police Inspector Glenn Umali, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG)-National Capital Region (NCR) South Chief, the suspect promised a 20% profit to his victims. In the scheme, his victims invest a certain amount of money which would then be used for trading cryptocurrencies.

“’Yung mga unang buwan ng kaniyang pangako, naibigay niya ho ‘yung kaniyang 20 percent (na ipinangakong tubo); pero as time goes by, dahil dumami na nang dumami ‘yung kaniyang mga nabiktima, hindi niya na ho kayang bayaran,” Umali added.

[“In the first few months, he had remitted the 20% profit that he promised to his victims; but as time went by, he failed to give his promised profit because his clients multiplied.”]

The police inspector added that there were 30 initial complainants against Bersaluna, who is now facing charges of estafa together with Elipano.

Last year, the Securities and Exchange Commission issued an advisory against Big Dreams International and BDI Product Trading OPC, headed by Bersaluna.

“Based on the information received by this Commission, Big Dreams International and BDI Product Trading OPC entices the public to invest online or through the internet by being its member with initial membership fee/initial investment of Php7,500.00 with a guaranteed monthly return of P1,500 for 18 months (20% monthly ROI or 360% in 18 months) straight plus a circular magnetic necklace,” the advisory reads.

There was also an option given for its full-fledged members to invest in Forex Trading.

The commission added that Big Dreams International is not registered as a corporation nor as a partnership, while BDI Product Trading OPC is registered as a one-person corporation, but both are not authorized to do an investment solicitation.

In 2017, Bersaluna faced a charge of estafa allegedly acquiring ₱400,000 through a fraudulent transaction.

This article is published on BitPinas: 2 Nabbed for Multi Million-Peso Investment Scam Using Crypto

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