The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) of the Philippines recently dismantled two online scam dens in Mariveles town, Bataan province, arresting 10 Chinese suspects.
The police noted that these individuals were suspected of conducting transnational online scams using "romance traps" and virtual currency investments as their methods.
During the operation, the suspects were found operating multiple computers and mobile phones for illegal activities, using stickers to cover cameras and disguising their identities to deceive victims. Preliminary investigations revealed that they were former employees of a now-defunct POGO company in Polac city, Bataan province. After dispersing, they hid in the mountains to continue their fraudulent activities, forming small gangs to profit.
NBI Deputy Director for Intelligence Bocaling pointed out that the suspects deliberately chose remote areas with weak law enforcement for their operations to evade the increasingly strict crackdowns in the capital region. This reflects a shift among some former POGO employees towards telecommunication fraud, with a high degree of concealment.
The law enforcement agencies have charged the 10 individuals under the "Cybercrime Prevention Act" and the "Anti-Financial Account Fraud Act," and are collaborating with the immigration bureau. After completing the judicial procedures, they will be deported according to the law. The NBI stated that it would continue to expand its investigations to comprehensively combat transnational online scam groups.
