MANILA, Philippines — Eighteen Chinese nationals were arrested in Parañaque City for their alleged involvement in a scam hub, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) said on Wednesday.
In a statement, the NBI identified the arrested suspects as: Zhao Jianjun, Huang Cheng Chi, Huang Bi Ying, Li Hui Juan, Lengxin Yu, Liu Xing Rong, Chen Zihao, Zhou You Liang, Chen Xing, Chen Qing Gang, Huang Zhixon, Riu Chen, Mao Jing Hang, Liu Xuan Wu, Wang Wen Bin, Yan Xiao Hong, and Yang Yun.
A certain Hou Jusen, was also arrested for bribing authorities.
The 17 Chinese nationals were arrested in a condominium in Parañaque City on Tuesday, Oct. 29 for illegal access, misuse of devices, computer-related forgery, and computer-related fraud under RA 10175, otherwise known as the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012, as well as Social Engineering Schemes and Economic Sabotage under RA 12010, otherwise known as the Anti-Financial Account Scamming Act.
According to the NBI, they first received information that four condominium units in Paranaque City were being used as a scam hub by a foreign syndicate.
NBI surveillance operations then confirmed the information, and discovered that the units contained multiple workstations involved in illegal activities such as theft of bank account information, fraudulent investment schemes, cryptocurrency scams, and illegal gambling operations.
The suspects were arrested through a Warrant to Search, Seize, and Examine Computer Data (WSSECD) issued by the Regional Trial Court Branch 258 in Parañaque City.
After the arrest, one of the suspects tried to bribe the operatives by offering P300,000 for each detainee released.
The NBI said operatives feigned cooperating with the bribery attempt to maintain control of the situation, as well as to conduct an entrapment operation.
On the same day, Hou showed up with P1,500,000 bribe money nd was arrested.
The NBI also seized a fake Postal ID from Hou, bearing the name Jason Ponte Hao.
He was charged with corruption of public officials, falsification of public documents and violation of the anti-alias law.