A large-scale raid on a suspected online scam farm in Manila resulted in the arrest of approximately 400 foreign nationals. The Bureau of Immigration (BI) stated that the operation targeted victims abroad and violated immigration laws.
About 400 foreign nationals were arrested on Wednesday in a 'large-scale' raid on a suspected online scam farm in Manila, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) said Thursday. Authorities raided a building in Barangay Tambo, Parañaque City, and found workers allegedly engaged in online scam operations targeting victims abroad.
International concern has grown in recent years over similar scam operations in Asia, which are often staffed by trafficking victims who were tricked or coerced into promoting bogus cryptocurrency investments and other cons. 'Their operations were found to be in violation of immigration laws and posed significant risks to the public,' Fortunato Manahan, Bureau of Immigration Intelligence Division chief, said in a statement describing the latest raid. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in July announced a ban by the end of 2024 on Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs) that Manila says have been used as cover by organized crime groups for human trafficking, money laundering, online fraud, kidnappings and even murder. The BI had been monitoring the 'POGO-like activities' of the raided company 'for some time,' the statement said. The foreign nationals, many of whom were Chinese, were undergoing booking procedures, immigration bureau spokesman Dana Sandoval said. They will be temporarily detained while awaiting deportation, the bureau said. The Washington-based think tank United States Institute of Peace said in a May 2024 report that online scammers target millions of victims around the world and rake in annual revenues of $64 billion. It estimates the industry employs half a million workers, including 15,000 in the Philippines, who were recruited mainly via social media and were then forced to carry out scams, facing torture if they fail to meet quotas. BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado said the raid was part of the bureau's intensified efforts to combat illegal activities and ensure that foreign nationals residing in the country comply with its laws. 'The order of the president is clear. POGO workers who insist on staying in the country and violating our laws will be arrested and deported,' he said
ONLINE SCAM MANILA PHILIPPINES FOREIGN NATIONALS DEPORTATION
Philippines Latest News, Philippines Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
BI Arrests Nearly 400 Foreign Nationals in Parañaque RaidThe Bureau of Immigration (BI) apprehended nearly 400 illegal aliens in Parañaque, targeting an alleged scam operation. The raid uncovered the individuals working in offshore gaming-like activities at a company in Barangay Tambo, allegedly engaged in online scam operations targeting victims abroad. The BI Intelligence Division, fugitive search unit (FSU), and Anti-Terrorist Group (ATG) had been monitoring these activities for some time. The arrested individuals are undergoing booking procedures and will be temporarily held by the agency awaiting deportation proceedings.
Read more »
P63 Million Shabu Seized at NAIA, Female Foreign Nationals ArrestedPhilippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) operatives arrested two Zambian women at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) for attempting to smuggle a large quantity of shabu into the country.
Read more »
About 400 'illegal aliens engaged in scam operations' arrested in Paranaque City -- BIAlmost 400 aliens who are suspected to be illegally staying in the Philippines were arrested on Wednesday, Jan. 8, during a raid of a firm reportedly operating like the prohibited Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) and engaged in alleged scamming activitites.
Read more »
Hontiveros backs OSG’s mandate revoking fake birth certificates of foreign nationalsSenator Risa Hontiveros expressed strong support for the Office of the Solicitor General's (OSG) initiative to revoke fraudulent birth certificates issued
Read more »
BI to Deport 11,254 Foreign Nationals Involved in Pogo OperationsThe Bureau of Immigration (BI) will deport over 11,000 foreign nationals connected to Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (Pogos) who failed to comply with the government's deadline to leave the country.
Read more »
Two Chinese Nationals Arrested for Using Counterfeit Visas at Manila AirportTwo Chinese passengers, Wang Dingku and Su Zhengkun, were apprehended by the Bureau of Immigration (BI) at Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1 while attempting to board a flight to Bangkok, Thailand. Immigration officers discovered discrepancies in their visas, which were later confirmed as counterfeit by the forensic documents laboratory. Authorities believe the suspects also used these fake documents to enter the Philippines. They face charges under the Philippine Immigration Act and are set for summary deportation.
Read more »