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69 foreigners linked to love, cryptocurrency scams taken into custody

Philippines | National

69 foreigners linked to love, cryptocurrency scams taken into custody

By Aaron Recuenco

Agents of the Anti-Cybercrime Group of the Philippine National Police (PNP-ACG) took into custody 69 foreigners, mostly Indonesians and Chinese, during a raid on alleged love and cryptocurrency scams hub in Malate, Manila.

PNP-ACG spokesperson Lt. Wallen Mae Arancillo said the operation conducted on Tuesday night, Oct. 29, stemmed from the confirmed intelligence reports of the operation of a live illegal online Love Scam and Cryptocurrency Investment Scam in Malate District.

“Their victims are foreigners. They would employ various modus relating to love scam and investment on cryptocurrency. Once they get what they want, they will block the victims,’ said Arancillo.

Based on the report, the online scam hub has been operating for almost a year since the revocation of its permit on Nov. 8 last year. The scam hub was already raided several times in the past.

Arancillo said a total of 69 foreigners were taken into custody, 34 of them are Indonesians, 25 are Chinese and 10 are Malaysians, adding that ACG operatives also seized computer equipment and gadgets.

Meanwhile, operatives of the National Capital Region Police Office’s Regional Special Operations Group (NCRPO-RSOG) rescued five Chinese nationals believed to be victims of human trafficking in a raid in Ermita, Manila on Wednesday, Oct. 30.

NCRPO director Maj. Gen. Sidney Hernia said the operation also resulted in the arrest of 23-year old Chinese Qiu Tian who is reportedly holding the victims captive.

He said the operation was conducted after one of the victim’s partners sought police assistance.

“The victim told her partner that she was being held against his will, physically abused, and forced to work in an alleged scam operation,” said Hernia.

During the investigation after the operation, Hernia said the victims displayed visible signs of distress and physical abuse.

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