MANILA, Philippines — Seventeen foreign nationals were arrested in a suspected scam hub in Makati City over the weekend.
Armed with a search warrant, agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI)’s Cybercrime Division raided a five-story apartment building in Barangay Tejeros past 11 p.m. on Friday and apprehended the foreigners.
In a message on Viber, NBI director Jaime Santiago said he has yet to receive a progress report of the operation when asked for the nationalities of the suspects, although most of the suspects are Chinese nationals.
Several Filipinos were also rounded up by NBI agents for investigation.
According to initial NBI reports, the suspects were allegedly engaged in investment and cryptocurrency scams.
Santiago said they would hold a press conference about the raid within the week.
A report aired over GMA News’ “24 Oras” last night showed NBI agents raiding the building, which has about 20 workstations and rooms for couples.
Some rooms in the building were labeled “Couple Room,” indicating that some foreign nationals were staying there with their partners. Each room was equipped with a bed and bathroom.
The suspects also have a regular supply of food as the building has a commissary.
One of the Filipinos apprehended said they are unaware of the illegal activities happening inside the apartment building.
“We are just kitchen helpers here. We deliver food to the rooms,” the Filipino said in the TV interview aired over GMA News.
Numerous computers, cellular phones, subscriber identity module or SIM cards and notebooks containing scripts used in that the suspects allegedly use in love scams and other forms of online fraud were seized in the operation.
The foreigners were brought by the NBI to its Cybercrime Division for further investigation.
The computers and other gadgets will undergo forensic examination to determine how long the suspected scam hub has been operating.
The NBI is also looking into the origins of the clients involved in the scam hub’s operations.
President Marcos has earlier ordered a ban on all Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs) in the country by the end of the year.
POGOs have been linked to various scam activities, including human trafficking and torture.
The NBI expressed belief that some scam hubs, like the one raided in Makati, may have connections to these illicit operations.