Leader of Japanese Scam Gang Targeting the Elderly Arrested in the Philippines

The Philippines Bureau of Immigration (BI) recently arrested a Japanese fugitive in Manila, suspected of fraud. It is reported that the man is the leader of a criminal gang that defrauded elderly people in Japan. Law enforcement is verifying whether he has committed similar crimes against local residents in the Philippines, and the investigation is expected to be completed before he is deported back to Japan.

The suspect is accused of planning fraudulent activities in the Philippines using a fake identity, with his gang members impersonating law enforcement officers, claiming that the victims needed to pay "police fees," and then sending people to the homes of elderly victims in Japan to demand large sums of money. This method has many similarities to the "Luffy" fraud case previously cracked jointly by the Philippines and Japan.

Philippine law enforcement has been monitoring this gang since last year and found a forged Philippine identity card on the suspect. The Immigration Bureau stated that it would thoroughly investigate his criminal network and the possible range of victims, including local residents in the Philippines.

Authorities emphasized that they would continue to strengthen international cooperation to combat transnational crime, ensuring that the Philippines does not become a haven for such illegal activities. Updates on the investigation and subsequent actions will be promptly communicated to the public.