The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) on Tuesday, May 20, called on content creators, ethical hackers, and civic groups to actively partner with the government in cracking down on cybercrime, following the viral release of a YouTube exposé on a scam hub allegedly operating in Cebu.

The video titled “Scammers PANIC After Getting Hacked Live On CCTV!” by content creator @mrwnSB shows individuals caught in the act of online fraud. Uploaded on May 18, it has since gone viral, drawing 1,793,671 views on YouTube and sparking widespread public concern.

DICT Assistant Secretary Renato “Aboy” Paraiso described the exposé as “a challenge,” citing the video as a significant trigger for government response.

“This will be short. We’d like to address kasi (because) this particular viral video entitled Scammers Panic After Getting Hacked Live on CCTV dated May 18, 2025,” Paraiso said. 

“I’d like to consider him an advocate and a friend. Username is @mrwnSB. This shows a scam hub being filmed while doing their scams and being exposed by the content creator.”

Paraiso noted that @mrwnSB had conducted a year-long investigation prior to publishing the footage. 

The video showed a group of individuals engaged in what appears to be an international investment scam, targeting victims abroad, particularly in South Africa.

“First and foremost, this scam hub operates in the Philippines, particularly in Cebu. What they do is, and here’s the catch, their victims are from outside the country,” Paraiso explained. 

“It’s an investment scam… they ask people to invest in an AI application or an AI company of sorts.”

He said the small operation reportedly generates more than $800,000 annually, with net earnings estimated at $400,000 after costs. 

“Lahat ng mga agents are Filipinos (All their agents are Filipinos,” he said, adding that a key figure in the operation, identified only as Adam, has a foreign number and is believed to be based abroad.

Rejecting the idea that the government remains idle in the face of such threats, Paraiso emphasized the DICT’s readiness to act.

“Let me say that first and foremost, for and on behalf of our Secretary, Secretary Henry Aguda, we want to reject the notion that the Philippine government does not act in the face of adversity,” he said.

“We would take action on them and we would see to it that these scam artists, these criminals would face the full force of the law. We welcome partnership with private individuals as well, civic groups, ethical hackers, white hats who share our goal on stopping cybercrime.”

Paraiso encouraged content creators to work closely with government agencies such as the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) and DICT through official channels at dict.gov.ph and cicc.gov.ph.

“This is the spirit of the Digital Bayanihan of the DICT and the CICC… a whole of society approach,” he said.

Meanwhile, cybersecurity advocacy group Scam Watch Pilipinas lauded @mrwnSB’s investigative work and called for immediate action from law enforcement agencies.

“Scam Watch Pilipinas commends the investigative efforts of the @mrwnSB YouTube channel in exposing the operations of an alleged scam hub located in Cebu IT Park,” the statement read.

“Contrary to common narratives suggesting that employees of scam hubs are coerced into participation, the video evidence indicates a level of willingness and routine in their operations. This challenges the perception of these individuals as mere victims and underscores the need for a more nuanced understanding of their roles in perpetuating cyber fraud.”

The group also urged the Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG) and the CICC to take the video’s findings seriously.

“Their involvement is crucial in dismantling such operations and bringing the perpetrators to justice. It is disheartening that the video has revealed the Philippines’ growing global notoriety in cyber fraud.”