Authorities in the Philippines have confirmed that a suspected online scam den was busted in a residential area of Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu Province, arresting over 30 suspects, including 2 Taiwanese citizens and 29 Filipinos.
This operation was initiated by the Central Visayas Office of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), targeting a house disguised as an e-commerce business center, which was actually a hub for "love and online shopping scams." Investigators stated that the suspects were caught red-handed engaging in illegal activities in the basement of the house.
"These scam websites look no different from legitimate e-commerce sites. It is only when the victims do not receive their packages that they realize they have been scammed," explained Atty. Renan Oliva, the regional director of Central Visayas, "Many of the products are priced high and do not support cash on delivery (COD), forcing victims to pay upfront."
According to the NBI, these suspects carried out scams through fake online shopping platforms and "romance traps." Some victims were deceived into paying in advance for expensive goods that they never received; others were lured into fake romantic relationships and guided to transfer money.
Law enforcement suspects that this scam group has been secretly operating for nearly a year. Oliva noted that since the president declared POGO (Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators) illegal, related criminal activities have gradually shifted to residential areas, becoming more covert.
In this raid, multiple computers, mobile phones, and related electronic devices were seized. Cooperation with the immigration bureau is underway to check if the involved foreigners are linked to other cases or have criminal records.
The suspects are currently detained at the NBI detention facility, facing multiple charges of online fraud and illegal operations. As of the time of reporting, all involved parties have declined to comment.
