Pasay City: Over 400 foreign nationals were arrested in a raid on an alleged Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) scam hub in Pasay City. The operation, conducted by the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC), in collaboration with the Pasay City government, the Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP CIDG), and the Department of Justice (DOJ) Office of Cybercrime, resulted in the closure of an illegal POGO operation inside One Wheels Condominiums.
According to Philippines News Agency, the crackdown was initiated following a tip-off from a concerned citizen who reported an unusual influx of foreign nationals frequenting the building. Authorities discovered signs of scams being operated from the site, including cryptocurrency fraud, love scams, investment scams, and spamming activities.
During the raid, investigators found various tools used in the scams, such as text blasters, one-time password generators, and cold crypto wallets. The scams were primarily executed through messaging platforms like Viber and Telegram.
A total of 401 foreign nationals were apprehended, comprising 207 Chinese, 132 Vietnamese, 24 Koreans, 11 Malaysians, 14 Indonesians, 12 Myanmar nationals, and one individual from Madagascar. Additionally, 52 Filipino workers were also present at the site.
In response to the illegal operations, the Pasay City government issued a cease and desist order, shutting down the operation immediately due to the lack of a business permit and violations of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s total ban on POGOs.
