4 Chinese tagged in scam hub nabbed

MANILA, Philippines — Four Chinese were arrested recently during a raid on a suspected cryptocurrency investment and love scam hub in Parañaque City.

The facility reportedly posed as a licensed Philippine offshore gaming operator to conceal its illegal activities.

Wei Hanbing, 33; Wang Bo, 32; Wang Zhaoshan, 37, and Guo Dong, 26 were detained on Aug. 31 at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig.

Authorities have turned them over to the Bureau of Immigration (BI).

Meanwhile, Zhang Xi, 38, who is wanted by the Chinese government and the Interpol, was apprehended on Sept. 8 in Parañaque, according to BI fugitive search unit chief Rendel Ryan Sy.

Zhang allegedly led an online criminal ring that designed a computer virus to remotely control around 4,200 computers in China, which gained over seven million yuan in ill-gotten profits since 2023.

In another operation, Taiwanese Wu Hsih Hsu, 53, was arrested by the BI on Sept. 5.

A warrant of arrest for rape was issued against Wu in 2005 by a court in Taiwan, the BI said, citing the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Manila.

Wu overstayed in the Philippines for over 20 years, according to the BI.