Seven persons "illegally" selling GCash accounts were arrested in Quezon City during entrapment operations conducted by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).
In a statement, the NBI identified those arrested as Archival Tan, alias Archie Tan; Prospero Enrique, John Rick Dalagan, Raymond Samper, Christian Alicando, Ronnel Ramirez, and Ronald Cuevas.
After their arrest, the NBI said the suspects were charged with violations of Section 9(b) of Republic Act (RA) 8484, the Access Devices Regulation Act of 1998, in relation to Section 6 of RA10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012; and Section 11(g) of RA 8484 in relation to Section 7 of RA 11934, the SIM Registration Act of 2012.
It said they were apprehended during two separate operations conducted by agents of the NBI’s Cybercrime Division (NBI-CCD) last Wednesday, Jan. 17.
It also said it received information that “Facebook Accounts under the names ‘Archie Tan’ and ‘Prince’ were engaged in trafficking of GCash Accounts sold to various individuals for illicit activities, including online fraud.”
“NBI-CCD immediately established communication with the two (2) Subjects through FB Messenger,” it added.
Then, the NBI said its "undercover agents were able to order five (5) Gcash Accounts with P500,000 limit for P1,500 per account from Subject Tan and seven (7) GCash Accounts with a limit of P500,000 for P3,500 from Subject Dalagan."
It said its agents first arrested Tan and Enriquez at around 8 pm on Jan. 17 at a fast food joint along East Avenue in Quezon City where they agreed to meet for the delivery of the GCash accounts. Later, the other suspects were apprehended, it also said.