Telecom scam dens have been exposed again in Cebu City, Philippines, but the familiar scenario unfolds once more—as the police arrive, the culprits have already "pushed the dog" and fled with their belongings.
This incident originated from a video that went viral on social media on May 19th, suspected to be filmed by a local Filipino blogger. The video shows a group of people with foreign accents operating computers inside a commercial building in the Maria Luisa luxury residential area of Cebu, engaging in suspected "pig-butchering" romance scams and cryptocurrency investment frauds. The footage even included a list of employees and scam scripts, causing public uproar.
After receiving the tip-off, the Philippine National Police's Anti-Cybercrime Task Force launched a raid on May 20th, in collaboration with Cebu City's Business Permit and Police Department, targeting a commercial building in the Kasambagan area. However, upon entering the site, the police found the office deserted, with computers and fans still running, clearly indicating a hasty evacuation. Documents, equipment, and personal belongings were scattered everywhere. The police immediately sealed off the scene and applied for a search warrant to forensically examine all remaining electronic devices.
The chief of Cebu Police District, General Rederico Maranan, confirmed that these scam groups often disguise their real operations under names like "Tech Support Center" or "AI Financial Platform." Their methods are highly professional: impersonating foreigners to gain trust, inducing transfers through emotional relationships, or masquerading high-return investment projects to encourage further investments, while manipulating backend displays to defraud funds.
What's more concerning is that such offices often have a clear division of labor: specialized personnel write scripts, control the backend technology, and establish positions like "mentor" and "team leader," similar to scam factories previously discovered in Myawaddy, Myanmar, and Sihanoukville, Cambodia.
This is not the first time Philippine police have encountered an "empty raid." Since 2023, similar cases have been frequent. In March, during a raid on the PBCOM Tower in Makati City, the police planned to arrest over 600 individuals, but the site was already empty, with only the air conditioning and computers left running—the gang had once again received advance notice of the operation.
The repeated failures in law enforcement have led to public speculation about possible "internal leaks." The police have not responded directly but have stated that they will strengthen the confidentiality of law enforcement to prevent further "cold tea" situations.
By the end of 2024, the Philippine government announced a complete halt to the POGO (Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators) business, attempting to cut off the gambling and scamming dark chain. However, the crackdown is far from keeping up with the speed of scamming techniques upgrading. These groups have now transformed into "data outsourcing" and "tech services," with more sophisticated disguises and increased mobility.
Not only in Cebu, but places like Makati and Pasay also continue to report high-rise buildings hiding scam dens—from tourist destinations to business centers, scamming forces have infiltrated all levels of Philippine society.
Although the police emphasize "no tolerance as long as there are clues," the reality is: repeated "empty" operations have already damaged law enforcement credibility. The public calls for strengthening international law enforcement cooperation and thoroughly investigating the leak chains to eradicate the protective umbrellas of the dens from the source.
In this chase between cops and robbers, will hackers, bloggers, and police be one step ahead, or will the scam groups hidden in every corner of the Philippines take the lead in fleeing again? This game is far from over.
