On May 20, Philippine police conducted a raid on an office in Kasambagan District, Cebu City, suspected of engaging in transnational fraud. However, by the time law enforcement arrived, the premises had already been vacated, presumably because the suspects had been tipped off and had fled.
The institution targeted in the raid was "BMJ Data Processing Services Company." The police, in conjunction with the municipal enforcement team, acted on a search and cease operation order. However, the office was already empty of personnel, and most of the office equipment had been swiftly removed, leaving behind only miscellaneous items and a few tables and chairs, effectively rendering the office a "shell."
According to police investigations, the exposure of this company was due to a foreign "white hat hacker" and online opinion leader who infiltrated its system technically and revealed its alleged fraudulent activities under the guise of fake investment projects, specifically targeting overseas investors, leading them to invest substantial funds, and ultimately absconding with the money. After the information was made public, BMJ Company allegedly quietly ceased operations, and various signs at the scene corroborated this.
The police further pointed out that BMJ Company could not provide a legal business license or municipal license, and had previously been warned by authorities for failing to submit relevant documents. The company's head claimed to be only involved in equipment leasing and technical setup, and was "unaware" of the company's operational content.
The Cebu police stated that they now have a complete list of all BMJ employees and will next verify each individual's specific involvement and legal responsibility in the suspected fraud case.
Meanwhile, the police are preparing to apply to the court for a search warrant to recover the computer equipment and electronic data that have not yet been removed from the office, as key evidence for further investigation and tracking.
This case once again exposes the covert and rapid transfer characteristics of transnational online fraud groups. The police emphasized that they will continue to collaborate with cybersecurity experts to intensify their efforts to trace and combat such fraud, aiming to curb similar fraudulent activities at the source and protect the financial safety of potential victims both domestically and abroad.
