KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysians were among 67 foreigners arrested by Philippine police today during a raid on a Chinese-run scam centre in the nation’s capital.
It is believed that workers were allegedly made to trick people into investing in a “manipulated” trading platform.
Police said that the centre, located at an office tower in the capital Manila, was operating under the guise of a licensed online gaming company – a business operation previously banned by the Filipino government.
Besides the arrest of two Chinese nationals believed to be the owner and manager of the facility, police also detained 58 other Chinese citizens as well as individuals from Malaysia, Myanmar, Indonesia and Vietnam.
According to an AFP report citing a statement from police, additionally, 32 Filipinos were also arrested during the pre-dawn raid on the centre said to be running a “crypto-currency investment scam” and “love scam”.
Employees at the centre would pose as wealthy models dressed in a “seductive manner” and engage in “lascivious conduct” to “entice” prospective victims into investing in the manipulated trading platform, said police.
While the Filipinos arrested reportedly told police that they were “forced” to work as scammers, the workers did not go into detail regarding what would happen to them if they refused such orders.
In July, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr ordered an immediate ban on widespread online gambling operations in the country. He accused such businesses of involvement in crimes including financial scams, human trafficking, torture, kidnappings and murders.
The ban followed public outcry over allegations that a town mayor in the Tarlac province north of Manila was linked to a massive scam centre near her town hall.
Bamban municipality mayor Alice Leal Guo is currently on the run after she was accused of being a Chinese citizen who fraudulently obtained Filipino citizenship to be able to run for a public office reserved only for Filipinos.
Following Guo’s move to flee the country last month, Marcos has since promised to go after those who abetted her escape from the nation, vowing that “heads will roll”.
Authorities have said that they believe several hundred illegal online gambling entities and more than 40 licensed operators are running scam centres under the noses of public officials in the Philippines. – August 23, 2024