Revised Penal Code Article 315 Swindling (estafa)

Any person who shall defraud another y any of the !eans !entioned herein elow shall e punished y"

1st# $he penalty of prision correccional in its !a%i!u! period to prision !ayor in its !ini!u! period& if the a!ount of the fraud is over 1'&((( pesos ut does not e%ceed ''&((( pesos& and if such a!ount e%ceeds the latter su!& the penalty provided in this paragraph shall e i!posed in its !a%i!u! period& adding one year for each additional 1(&((( pesos) ut the total penalty which !ay e i!posed shall not e%ceed twenty years# *n such cases& and in connection with the accessory penalties which !ay e i!posed under the provisions of this Code& the penalty shall e ter!ed prision !ayor or reclusion te!poral& as the case !ay e)

'nd# $he penalty of prision correccional in its !ini!u! and !ediu! periods& if the a!ount of the fraud is over +&((( pesos ut does not e%ceed 1'&((( pesos)

3rd# $he penalty of arresto !ayor in its !a%i!u! period to prision correccional in its !ini!u! period if such a!ount is over '(( pesos ut does not e%ceed +&((( pesos) and

,th# -y arresto !ayor in its !a%i!u! period& if such a!ount does not e%ceed '(( pesos& provided that in the four cases !entioned& the fraud e co!!itted y any of the following !eans"

1# .ith unfaithfulness or a use of confidence& na!ely"

(a) -y altering the su stance& /uantity& or /uality or anything of value which the offender shall deliver y virtue of an o ligation to do so& even though such o ligation e ased on an i!!oral or illegal consideration#

( ) -y !isappropriating or converting& to the pre0udice of another& !oney& goods& or any other personal property received y the offender in trust or on co!!ission& or for ad!inistration& or under any other o ligation involving the duty to !a1e delivery of or to return the sa!e& even though such o ligation e totally or partially guaranteed y a ond) or y denying having received such !oney& goods& or other property#

(c) -y ta1ing undue advantage of the signature of the offended party in lan1& and y writing any docu!ent a ove such signature in lan1& to the pre0udice of the offended party or of any third person#

'# -y !eans of any of the following false pretenses or fraudulent acts e%ecuted prior to or si!ultaneously with the co!!ission of the fraud"

(a) -y using fictitious na!e& or falsely pretending to possess power& influence& /ualifications& property& credit& agency& usiness or i!aginary transactions& or y !eans of other si!ilar deceits#

( ) -y altering the /uality& fineness or weight of anything pertaining to his art or usiness#

(c) -y pretending to have ri ed any 2overn!ent e!ployee& without pre0udice to the action for calu!ny which the offended party !ay dee! proper to ring against the offender# *n this case& the offender shall e punished y the !a%i!u! period of the penalty#

(d) -y post3dating a chec1& or issuing a chec1 in pay!ent of an o ligation when the offender therein were not sufficient to cover the a!ount of the chec1# $he failure of the drawer of the chec1 to deposit the a!ount necessary to cover his chec1 within three (3) days fro! receipt of notice fro! the an1 and4or the payee or holder that said chec1 has een dishonored for lac1 of insufficiency of funds shall e pri!a facie evidence of deceit constituting false pretense or fraudulent act# (As a!ended y R#A# ,555& approved 6une 17& 18+7#)9

(e) -y o taining any food& refresh!ent or acco!!odation at a hotel& inn& restaurant& oarding house& lodging house& or apart!ent house and the li1e without paying therefor& with intent to defraud the proprietor or !anager thereof& or y o taining credit at hotel& inn& restaurant& oarding house& lodging house& or apart!ent house y the use of any false pretense& or y a andoning or surreptitiously re!oving any part of his aggage fro! a hotel& inn& restaurant& oarding house& lodging house or apart!ent house after o taining credit& food& refresh!ent or acco!!odation therein without paying for his food& refresh!ent or acco!!odation#

3# $hrough any of the following fraudulent !eans"

(a) -y inducing another& y !eans of deceit& to sign any docu!ent#

( ) -y resorting to so!e fraudulent practice to insure success in a ga! ling ga!e#

(c) -y re!oving& concealing or destroying& in whole or in part& any court record& office files& docu!ent or any other papers#

Previous" -oo1 ' $itle 1( Chapter + Swindling and :ther ;eceits <e%t" Article 31+ :ther for!s of swindling