On Thursday, August 17th, the National Bureau of Investigation Intellectual Property Rights Division (NBI-IPRD) conducted a raid on the premises of CCO Media Philippines, a company operated by Chinese individuals located in Bonifacio Global City (BGC), Taguig. The raid was initiated due to allegations of IP violations related to an online investment scam.
CCO Media Philippines, situated on the 21st floor of High Street South Corporate Plaza Tower 2 at the corner of 26th St. and 11th Avenue in BGC, was found to have engaged in the promotion and sale of an elaborate revenue-sharing investment scheme. They falsely presented themselves as affiliated with Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings, Inc., a prominent American outdoor advertising company.
This operation was carried out based on search warrants issued by the Manila Regional Trial Court, citing violations of the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines, specifically Sections 177.1 (Copyright Infringement), Section 168 (Unfair Competition), and Section 169.1 (False Designation of Origin; False Description or Representation).
During the raid, the NBI confiscated various items bearing CLEAR CHANNEL USA’s logos, trademarks, and copyrighted materials, including a nearly identical copy of CLEAR CHANNEL USA’s 2022 Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Report. CCO Media Philippines falsely claimed to be the local branch of CLEAR CHANNEL USA and utilized names such as “CLEAR CHANNEL OUTDOOR ASIA CORP.,” “CCO Media,” and “CCO Media Philippines.”
John Ignacio, executive officer of the NBI’s Intellectual Property Rights Division, emphasized the need for public caution in the face of such scams, urging skepticism towards investment opportunities that promise unrealistically high returns.
CLEAR CHANNEL USA discovered that CCO Media had registered with the Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) under the business name “CCO CLEAR CHANNEL OUTDOOR ASIA CORP.,” despite lacking authorization for investment solicitation and taking.
To attract investors, CCO Media employed various social media platforms, including Facebook, Facebook groups, YouTube, and Telegram. They offered investment products ranging from P300.00 to P1,000,000.00, promising daily returns between 2.5 percent and 50 percent, depending on the investment level. Investors also received referral bonuses and commissions for recruiting new members.
During the raid, an investor revealed that they had invested P57,000 and were considering further investments due to the convincing appearance of CCO Media’s office and displayed “awards.” However, the raid by NBI-IPRD operatives halted their plans.
While the raid was ongoing, a person named “Vincy” arrived to distribute employee salaries, claiming ignorance of the scam and that she was merely working for unspecified “bosses.” A staff member named “Abby” mentioned that non-Filipino “bosses” operated the office, and they had limited information about them.
CCO Media attempted to distance itself from the raid, spreading false information through various channels, alleging corrupt activities and unprofessional conduct by CCO Media staff, or claiming the raid aimed to dismantle a rival scam app called “woshopper.”
CLEAR CHANNEL USA intends to file legal cases against CCO Media for violations of the Intellectual Property Code, Securities Regulations Code, and Revised Penal Code. The seized items will serve as evidence in court.
Atty. Bien Marquez III, a partner at Quisumbing Torres serving as legal counsel for Clear Channel Outdoor US, commended vigilant individuals who reached out to Clear Channel Outdoor US, helping them uncover the unauthorized use of their name and reputation in the victimization of Filipino investors. Clear Channel US will collaborate with relevant agencies to stop these deceptive practices.
