OPERATIVES of the PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group (ACG) arrested 69 foreign nationals allegedly involved in a love and cryptocurrency investment scam during a raid in Manila on Tuesday night.
ACG spokesperson Lt. Wallen Mae Arancillo said the suspects — 34 Indonesians, 25 Chinese and 10 Malaysians – are undergoing further investigation, pending the filing of criminal charges.
Arancillo said the suspects were nabbed during a raid of the Vertex Techonology Corporation at Century Peak Tower at 8:25 p.m. Tuesday by virtue of a search warrant issued by Manila Judge Rebecca Guillen-Ubaña.
An ACG report said the suspects were caught “doing a live online operation,” referring to their alleged love and cryptocurrency illegal activities.
Operatives seized several computers and gadgets, which are due to be subjected to forensic examination by the ACG.
Arancillo said the operation stemmed from information that a scam hub is operating at the Century Park Tower, victimizing foreigners and Filipinos.
She said the suspects contact their victims through a website and gain their sympathy and trust. If the victims fall in love with the suspects, they are asked to invest in cyrptocurrency.
“If they (suspects) could no longer get anything (investment), their victims are automatically blocked from their website,” she also said.
Arancillo urged the public to be careful when seeking partners online.
“Let us be careful if we are partners. It’s better to meet them face to face (than online),” she said.
ACG Cyber Response Unit chief Col. Jay Guillermo said a victim was rescued during the raid but declined to give additional details.
Guillermo said the raid was conducted after a three-months surveillance operation.
Guillermo clarified the raided firm is not a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators hub. “There is no evidence that will show they are into this (POGO operation),” he said.
What the ACG know, Guillermo said, is that the firm is engaged only in love and cryptocurrency scam.
