23-8-2024 (MANILA) Philippine police have uncovered a sophisticated cryptocurrency scam operation masquerading as a legitimate online gaming company. The operation, which took place on Thursday, resulted in the arrest of nearly 100 individuals, including both foreign nationals and local Filipino workers.
The raid comes in the wake of President Ferdinand Marcos’s recent ban on online gambling operators, a move prompted by growing concerns over the industry’s links to various criminal activities including scams, kidnapping, human trafficking, and even murder.
Among those apprehended were 58 Chinese nationals, alongside individuals from Malaysia, Myanmar, Indonesia, and Vietnam. The operation also netted 32 Filipino workers, painting a picture of a truly international criminal enterprise. Notably, the Chinese owner and manager of the facility were among those taken into custody.
According to police statements, the centre was running a complex “crypto-currency investment scam” coupled with a “love scam”. The modus operandi involved employees posing as affluent models to entice victims into investing in a rigged trading platform. In a disturbing twist, some workers were reportedly coerced into participating in the scam, with Filipino arrestees claiming they were forced to work as scammers under duress.
The operation’s sophistication extended to employing individuals as models who were instructed to “dress in a seductive manner” and engage in “lascivious conduct” to lure potential victims. This revelation has raised concerns about the potential exploitation of vulnerable workers within these criminal networks.
The raid is part of a broader crackdown following a public outcry over allegations involving a local mayor in a massive scam centre north of Manila. Alice Leal Guo, the mayor of Bamban municipality, is currently on the run after being accused of fraudulently obtaining Filipino citizenship to run for office. Her recent flight from the country has prompted President Marcos to vow retribution against those who aided her escape, declaring ominously that “heads will roll”.
Authorities believe this raid may be just the tip of the iceberg, with estimates suggesting hundreds of illegal online gambling entities – and potentially many licensed operators – are running scam centres under the noses of public officials. This latest bust underscores the challenges faced by Philippine law enforcement in combating sophisticated cyber fraud operations that often operate under the guise of legitimate businesses.
