Alleged scammer swindled Php 150 Million from Cordillera residents

Netizen Jesrael Nginhayan is asking people to share his Facebook post about a certain Maria Ellena Villa Estrada, an alleged scammer who stole about Php150 million from Igorot investors in Cordillera.

Nginhayan’s post on June 9, has been shared more than 19,000 times as of writing. Knowing how stories like this go viral, netizens are hoping it may lead to Estrada’s immediate incarceration.

Estrada allegedly offered an investment to the Cordillerans, drawing them in with a promise that the scheme will double their investment.

The Dailypedia contacted Mr. Nginhayan to further clarify the issue and according to him, Estrada encouraged the victims to invest in a popular networking scheme called Emgoldex. She also made people believe that she knows a Forex trader who could help double their money. The victims were able to collect payouts at first, not knowing these came from the investments of other investors.  Estrada never invested their money in the Forex. The suspect, who even pretended to be a religious woman to lure her victims, sweet talked her way to extort millions of hard-earned money from the people of Buguias, Trinidad, and Ifugao.

A screenshot of Jesrael Nginhayan’s post with the photo of Estrada:

Netizens shared their sentiments about the scam. Some victims posted their rage, others accepted the incident and warned netizens about committing the same mistake, a lot sympathized with the victims and appealed to Estrada to return the victims’ money while some blamed the investors for trusting the culprit.

In the latter part of the post, Nginhayan, on behalf of the scammed victims, promised a reward for information leading to capture of the alleged suspect.