Filing an Estafa Complaint in the Philippines – Everything You Need to Know

1. What is estafa?

Estafa (swindling) is a crime under Articles 315-317 of the Revised Penal Code (RPC). It punishes deceit or abuse of confidence that causes damage to another. The most litigated modes are:

Mode	Typical act	Article paragraph
Misappropriation/Conversion	Entrusted property or money is diverted for the offender’s own use	Art. 315 ¶1(b)
False pretenses & fraudulent acts	Using fictitious name, false power, or non-existent property to obtain money/goods	Art. 315 ¶2(a) & (b)
Bouncing checks with fraud	Issuing a check knowing there are no funds (distinct from BP 22)	Art. 315 ¶2(d)	(RESPICIO & CO., Respicio & Co.)

2. Elements the Prosecution Must Prove

Deceit or abuse of confidence (intent to defraud exists at the very start).
Damage or prejudice capable of pecuniary estimation to the offended party.
Causal connection between the fraudulent act and the loss. (Respicio & Co.)

Failure to establish any element results in acquittal, as the Supreme Court reiterated in People v. Medina (2023) where mere material possession was held insufficient. (Supreme Court of the Philippines)

3. Penalties after RA 10951 (2017)

RA 10951 adjusted the money thresholds but kept the same periods of imprisonment. The most common brackets are:

Amount defrauded	Penalty (principal)	Citation
≤ ₱40,000	Arresto Mayor (1 mo 1 day - 6 mo) to Prisión Correccional (6 mo 1 day - 2 yrs 4 mo)	turn6search0
₱40,001 - ₱1,200,000	Prisión Correccional max. to Prisión Mayor min. (2 yrs 4 mo - 8 yrs)	turn6search0
₱1,200,001 - ₱2,400,000	Prisión Mayor min.–med. (6 yrs 1 day - 14 yrs 8 mo)	turn6search4
₱2,400,001 - ₱4,400,000	Prisión Mayor max. to Reclusión Temporal min. (12 yrs 1 day - 17 yrs 4 mo)	turn6search4
> ₱4,400,000	Reclusión Temporal max. to Reclusión Perpetua	turn6search4

Retroactivity: RA 10951 is favorable to the accused and therefore applies even to pending or final cases, as confirmed in People v. Sy (2024). ([Lawphil][4])

4. When estafa Becomes Large-Scale or Syndicated

Statute	Requisites	Penalty
PD 1689 (Syndicated Estafa)	(1) 5 or more conspirators and (2) funds are solicited from the public, coop members, etc.	Reclusión Perpetua to Death (now reclusión perpetua maximum)	([Lawphil][5])
PD 1689 (Large-scale)	< 5 offenders but amount exceeds ₱100,000 and sources above	Reclusión Temporal to Reclusión Perpetua

5. Distinguishing Estafa from BP 22

Point	Estafa	BP 22 (Bouncing-Checks Law)
Element of deceit?	Yes – must exist at issuance	No – gravamen is the act of issuing a worthless check
Damage required?	Yes	No
Notice of dishonor	Optional (only to show deceit)	Mandatory element
Can be filed together?	Yes – same check may give rise to both offenses	—	([Supreme Court of the Philippines][6], [Lawphil][7])

6. Prescriptive Periods

The crime prescribes according to the penalty imposable (Arts. 90-91, RPC).

≤ Prisión Correccional (up to 6 yrs) → 10 years
Prisión Mayor (6-12 yrs) → 15 years
Reclusión Temporal (12-20 yrs) → 20 years The period is interrupted by the filing of the complaint-affidavit with the prosecutor’s office.

7. Which Court? (Original Jurisdiction)

Criminal jurisdiction is determined by the statutory penalty, not the amount:

Penalty Range	Court
Arresto Mayor → Prisión Correccional max.	MTC/MeTC/MTCC
Anything higher	RTC

(AM No. 00-11-03-SC; RA 11576’s 2021 revisions do not affect criminal cases for estafa.)

8. Step-by-Step Guide to Filing an Estafa Complaint

Gather Evidence: contracts, receipts, screenshots, checks, demand letters, IDs of the accused. ([RESPICIO & CO.][8], [RESPICIO & CO.][9])
Draft a Complaint-Affidavit: sworn before a prosecutor or notary. Attach all exhibits and specify:
- parties’ full identities & addresses
- narration of facts showing all elements
- estimated amount defrauded and prayer for restitution
File with the Office of the City/Provincial Prosecutor in the place where any element occurred or with the NBI/PNP Anti-Fraud for investigation. (Respicio & Co.)
Pay filing fee (varies; average ₱500-₱1,000).
Preliminary Investigation
- Respondent has 10 days to file a counter-affidavit.
- Parties may file replies/rejoinders.
- Prosecutor resolves within 60 days; may elevate to DOJ for review.
Information Filed in Court; judge issues warrant or sets bail (see DOJ Bail-Bond Guide 2018). ([E-Library][10])
Arraignment & Pre-Trial within 30 days of court receipt.
Trial & Decision – burden on prosecution to prove guilt beyond reasonable doubt.
Restitution and Civil Liability are automatically adjudged (Art. 104 RPC).
Post-Judgment Remedies – appeal, motion for reconsideration, or petition for review.

9. Strategic Tools for Complainants

Remedy	Purpose	Statute/Rule
Demand letter before filing	Shows deceit & interrupts prescription	Art. 315 RPC
Hold Departure Order	Prevent flight of respondent	DOJ Circular 41-10
Asset freeze / bank inquiry	Preserve proceeds (esp. investment scams)	AMLA as amended
SEC / DTI referral	If scam involves unregistered investment scheme	SEC Enforcement

10. Common Defenses

Good-faith belief that no fraud existed (negates deceit).
No demand / novation (for misappropriation cases).
Civil obligation not criminal – e.g., simple breach of contract.
Prescription – time-barred.
Lack of damage – property already returned.

Recent jurisprudence shows courts carefully examining juridical vs. material possession in agency or employment relationships – if the offender only had material possession, the proper charge might be qualified theft instead. ([Supreme Court of the Philippines][11])

11. Online & Digital Estafa

Frauds committed “through any information and communications technology” are estafa qualified by Sec. 6 of the Cybercrime Prevention Act (RA 10175), making the penalty one degree higher. The NBI Cybercrime Division or PNP-ACG usually handles forensics. (Respicio & Co.)

12. Practical Checklist (Victim’s Quick-Look)

Identity documents of the accused
Written proof of representation/transaction
Proof of payment or delivery of property
Correspondence showing deceit or misappropriation
Copy of demand letter & proof of service
Sworn complaint-affidavit + annexes
Filing fee & IDs of complainant/witnesses
Optional: request HDO / freeze order ([RESPICIO & CO.][9])

13. Costs & Timelines

Stage	Government fees	Typical duration
Prosecutor filing	₱500-1,000	2-6 months
Inquest (if arrest)	none	36 h
Trial (RTC)	₱5,000-10,000 bail ↑ (depends)	1-3 years
Appeal to CA/SC	docket ₱5,000+	1-5 years

(Private-lawyer fees are independent and negotiable.)

14. Key Take-Aways

File early—prescription may run as short as 10 years for low-value cases.
Provide concrete evidence of deceit or abuse of confidence; mere unpaid debt is not estafa.
Consider BP 22 as a parallel or fallback remedy for worthless checks.
Large-scale or syndicated fraud can mean life imprisonment under PD 1689.
Online scams are penalized one degree higher under the Cybercrime Law.

Proper documentation and legal counsel greatly increase the chances of securing a conviction and full restitution.