Eighteen Chinese nationals have been arrested by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) for operating a suspected online scam hub at the Casiana Residences in Paranaque City.
One of those arrested, who was suspected to be the group's leader, attempted to bribe the NBI operatives of P5.1 million for their release, NBI Director Jaime B. Santiago said.
Director Santiago on Wednesday, Oct. 30, presented to the media the suspects, including their arrested leader Hou Jusen.
He said the two Filipino companions of Hou will be used as state witnesses. They were not identified.
The 17 other Chinese nationals were identified as Zhao Jianjin, Huang Cheng Chi, Huang Bi Ying, Li Hui Juan, Lengxin Yu, Liu Xing Rong, Chen Zihao, Zhou You Liang, Chen Xing, Chen Qing Gang, Huang Zhixon, Riu Chen, Mao Jing Hang, Liu Xuan Wu, Wang Wen Bin, Yan Xiao Hong, and Yang Yun.
“Last night (Oct. 29) nagswoop down ang aming mga ahente at nakahuli nga ng labingpito na Chinese while actually engaged in scamming activities (Last night our agents swooped down at the illegal operation and arrested 17 Chinese while actually engaged in scamming activities),” Santiago said.
He said the operation was conducted by the NBI Cybercrime Division (CCD) and Special Task Force (STF) operatives who served a Warrant to Search, Seize and Examine Computer Data (WSSECD) issued by the Paranaque City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 258.
“Na-seize namin ‘yung mga involved na gadgets, electronic devices (We seized their gadgets and electronic devices),” said NBI-CCD Chief Jeremy C. Lotoc.
Lotoc observed that the scam hub is massive "‘yung kanilang crypto transactions (they have massive crypto transactions).”
He said the operatives discovered social engineering scheme scripts, money muling activities, crypto investment activity, and romance scams.
The 18 arrested Chinese nationals were presented for inquest after their arrest..
Hou was charged with corruption of public officials, falsification of public documents, and violating the Anti-Alias Law, Lotoc said.
The 17 others were charged with illegal access, misuse of devices, computer-related forgery, and computer-related fraud under Republic Act (RA) 10175, the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012; and for social engineering schemes and economic sabotage under RA 12010, the Anti-Financial Account Scamming Act, he also said.