Operatives of the Anti-Cybercrime Group — Eastern District Team (ACG-EDT) arrested on Thursday, Sept. 15, close to 80 personnel of an online lending company that allegedly harassed clients who failed to settle their debts.
The police conducted a raid on the company, known as Super Z Outsourcing Services Inc., located at the Ortigas Business Center in Barangay San Antonio, Pasig City.
The ACG sought the help of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in securing a warrant to “search, seize, and examine computer data,” as well as verify the company’s official documents, according to a Philippine News Agency (PNA)’s report.
The company’s harassment allegations include “sending threatening text messages and phone calls.”
The ACG said they have gathered substantial evidence pertaining to the alleged harassment, especially from concerned individuals who have alerted them of these scams via the ACG hotline.
Police confiscated the company’s electronic devices which will be subject to forensic examination by the ACG.
The owners and personnel of the lending company are facing charges for violation of Republic Act (RA) 10175 or the “Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.”
The ACG-EDT has previously conducted raids on online scamming companies based in Pasig City.
Most recently, 31 call center agents, including the owner of the agency, were arrested by the police on Sept. 9. for scamming foreign clients, particularly retired Australians and British citizens, to invest in a pension plan.
The money sent to the agency were transferred to different dummy bank accounts, based on the police’s initial investigation.
The 31 suspects were charged for computer-related fraud, and aiding or abetting in the commission of cybercrime, in accordance with RA 10175.