The National Bureau of Investigation's Cybercrime Division in Paranaque, Philippines, arrested 18 Chinese nationals suspected of involvement in fraud and bribery activities.
Authorities raided four units of Casiana Apartments based on intelligence, discovering they were used as a scam center with multiple workstations involved in bank account information theft, fake investment schemes, cryptocurrency scams, and illegal gambling.
The investigation revealed that the scam syndicate used WhatsApp or Telegram to contact victims, posing as legitimate businesses or acquaintances, and lured them into fake cryptocurrency investment schemes through emotional manipulation.
Moreover, they used manipulated gambling websites to ensure users always lost, profiting from their losses.
The arrested suspects are 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 Zhixiong, Liu Chen, Mao Jing Hang, Liu Xuan Wu, Wang Wen Bin, Yan Xiao Hong, and Yang Yun, with all names being transliterations.
They will face charges in the Philippines for violating the 2012 Cybercrime Prevention Act, Anti-Financial Account Fraud Act, illegal access to electronic devices, computer-related forgery, and fraud.
While being transported to the NBI office, one suspect offered to pay 300,000 pesos per person (totaling 5.1 million pesos) for their release.
NBI agents coordinated a sting operation, and when a Chinese citizen, Hou Jusen (alias Jason Ponte Hao), brought 1.5 million pesos as a bribe, agents apprehended him on the spot.
He will face charges of bribing public officials, forging public documents, and violating the Anti-Alias Law.
