Japanese robbed of P33,000 in valuables by fake talent scout

MANILA, Philippines — A Japanese national who wanted to try a modelling career ended up getting duped by a man who pretended to be a talent manager and carted away her personal belongings and cash.

Shum Honda, 21, pointed to a certain Danny Francisco as the fake manager who got her black bag containing a Samsung tablet worth P20,000, a Samsung phone worth P6,000 and P7,000 cash.

Senior Police Officer 4 George Villanueva, the case investigator, said the victim went to the Kamuning police station to complain about the theft, which happened at a restaurant along Timog Avenue in Barangay (village) Sacred Heart at around 1:30 p.m. on Sunday.

The victim first met the suspect as she was walking along Edsa in Mandaluyong City. The man was able to convince the girl to try a modelling career.

Honda was enticed to go with the suspect to a restaurant near GMA 7, where the girl was told to try on some outfits to demonstrate her modelling skills.

The girl went to the restroom to change her clothes, leaving behind her belongings which the suspect carted away.

Villanueva theorized that the Japanese was duped by a skillful con artist who had victimized other people.