Philippine authorities raided a suspected online scam syndicate in Manila on Friday, arresting about 100 suspects accused of extorting victims.
The raid took place in the Makati financial district, aimed at combating cyber scam organizations that often use gambling companies as fronts for criminal activities.
The Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) and agents from the National Bureau of Investigation surrounded two office spaces of a lending institution with assault rifles, arresting two suspects caught operating computers side by side.
Most of the suspects are young Filipinos who target victims through TikTok and other social media platforms, offering unsecured loans up to 25,000 pesos (about $428).
Gilberto Cruz, the director of PAOCC, told reporters at the scene that borrowers had to pay up to 35% interest weekly, and once they defaulted on repayments, they would face harassment, humiliation, and even threats to disclose personal information.
"Many victims develop psychological issues due to harassment, some suffer from depression, and some even commit suicide," Cruz said.
He added that under the Philippine cybercrime law, the suspects could face multiple charges including fraud.
According to the investigation, the raided company, Wewill Tech Corp., required victims to provide personal information and family photos, which the scammers then used for intimidation and extortion.
Cruz said that some victims even received coffins and funeral wreaths, further intensifying their fear.
Authorities are currently verifying the nationality of the company's owners. Cruz revealed that Chinese nationals had previously been arrested for operating similar scam operations.
He noted that the masterminds behind these scam groups could be criminals leftover from last year when President Ferdinand Marcos ordered the shutdown of online gambling operators.
"Most of the keyboard operators in these scam gangs are Filipinos, who communicate with victims in the local language," Cruz said.
He added, "The most heartbreaking thing is that Filipinos are deceiving and hurting their own people."
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime has identified Southeast Asia as a "ground zero" for global scam activities, with authorities believing that these scams are mainly controlled by Chinese criminal organizations.
