Philippine authorities have apprehended over 250 individuals, predominantly Chinese nationals, during a raid on a suspected online scam operation in Manila, according to law enforcement officials on Friday.
Police and other authorities conducted the raid on an office building late Thursday, discovering staff equipped with hundreds of phones, computers, and pre-registered international and local SIM cards, as reported by the Presidential Anti-Organised Crime Commission.
"These are indicators of love scamming that targets foreign nationals," the commission stated, referring to tactics where scammers feign romantic interest to gain trust and ultimately defraud their victims. Concerns have been mounting internationally over similar scam operations in Asia, often involving victims of trafficking who are deceived or coerced into promoting fraudulent crypto investments and other scams.
In July, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos banned all forms of offshore gaming operators, including internet gaming license holders, after the gambling industry was linked to financial scams, kidnapping, prostitution, human trafficking, torture, and murder. Thousands of foreign workers at these banned firms were given two months to leave the Philippines.
During the Manila raid, 190 Chinese, two Taiwanese, and 62 Filipinos were detained at the offices of 3D Analyzer Information Technologies Inc. The company previously held an internet gaming license but later informed regulators it had "ceased operations," according to Gilberto Cruz, the executive director of the anti-crime commission.
Cruz added, "We sought their passports or working visas, but they could not provide any." The commission plans to coordinate with the Beijing and Taipei missions to assist in identifying and arranging the deportation of the foreign nationals. Meanwhile, Filipinos implicated in scam activities will face charges in court.
Cruz also mentioned that the commission would seek court warrants to search the computers found within the office.
