2024.3.14，菲警突襲詐騙中心救奴工 現場發現近900人
菲律賓警方今天破曉前發動突襲，救出被迫在菲律賓一處網路詐騙中心工作的數百人，另有8名犯嫌被捕。警方在現場一共發現近900人。
菲律賓警方表示，一名越南籍男子聲稱從菲國首都馬尼拉（Manila）以北的大型詐騙中心脫逃，警方根據他提供的線索，破獲這起強迫疑似人口販運受害者進行多種網路詐騙的不法行徑。
專案小組負責人克魯茲（Gilberto Cruz）表示：「獲救員工告訴我們，（這家公司）涉入愛情詐騙、加密貨幣詐騙和其他詐騙活動。…受害者因護照被沒收無法離開，因而受人控制。」
警方在現場發現432名中國人、371名菲律賓人、57名越南人、8名馬來西亞人、3名台灣人、2名印尼人和2名盧安達人。
根據警方聲明，這處位於班班（Bamban）、占地10公頃的建築群偽裝成一間網路博弈公司。
Hundreds rescued from Philippines scam centre: police
MANILA: Hundreds of people forced to work in an online scam centre in the Philippines were rescued in a raid on Thursday (March 14) that also saw eight suspects arrested, according to police.
Acting on a tip from a Vietnamese man who alleged to have escaped the sprawling compound north of capital Manila, police said they unmasked an operation where suspected victims of human trafficking were forced into conducting various online scams.
“The rescued workers told us (the company) engages in love scams, romance scam, cryptocurrency scams and other scam activities,” said Gilberto Cruz, executive director of the crime task force that led the pre-dawn raid.
“The victims were controlled by having their passports confiscated so they were unable to leave.”
Police found 432 Chinese nationals, 371 Filipinos, 57 Vietnamese, eight Malaysians, three Taiwanese, two Indonesians and two Rwandans at the site.
The 10-hectare (25-acre) complex in Bamban was posing as an internet gaming company, according to a police statement.
Across South-East Asia, scam centres have mushroomed, with crime syndicates luring, kidnapping or coercing workers into predatory online activity.
The scam industry is raking in unprecedented sums, the equivalent of billions of dollars, according to the UN Office on Drugs and Crime.
Victims have reported travelling across the region, often on the pretence of romance or high-paying jobs but finding themselves forced instead to cajole people into ploughing money into fake investment platforms and other ruses.
The Philippines police said a Malaysian worker had also sought help after allegedly being held against his will at the same address in Bamban.
At the centre, a complex of 36 office buildings and dormitories, the victims were engaged in various online scams under threat of physical harm or other punishment, the authorities said.
“The (online gaming) workers who failed to achieve their quota… were physically harmed, deprived of sleep or locked up inside their rooms,” Cruz said.
Eight people are being held as suspects of illegal detention and human trafficking.
The Chinese embassy has been asked to help identify the suspects, Cruz said.
Reached for comment, a mission spokesman told AFP the request will be relayed to the Chinese authorities.
Cruz later told AFP an unspecified number of the Filipinos found at the site would be released without charges as they were “just there to work as maintenance or security” staff.
Last year, police detained nearly 3,300 people in two large-scale raids on what they said were scamming sites in Manila.
2024.3.1，PNP（菲律宾国家警察）反网络犯罪小组 (PNP ACG) 已记录了 478 起度假诈骗或住宿/旅行和旅游诈骗案件，显示自 2021 年以来呈令人担忧的上升趋势。具体而言，记录的案件如下：2021 年 – 39 起，2022 年 – 91 起例，2023 年 – 313 例，2024 年 – 35 例。度假诈骗是一种利用信息通信技术的犯罪，犯罪分子冒充合法机构，以低于平常的价格提供在线住宿服务。然而，受害者抵达后发现酒店系统中不存在他们的预订，从而暴露了骗局。
SECURE YOUR PLANS: BEWARE OF “VACATION SCAMS”
The PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP ACG) has documented 478 cases of Vacation Scam or Accommodation/Travel and Tour Scams, revealing a concerning upward trend since 2021. Specifically, the recorded cases are as follows: 2021 – 39 cases, 2022 – 91 cases, 2023 – 313 cases, and 2024 – 35 cases.
Vacation scam is an ICT-enabled crime where criminals impersonate legitimate establishments, offering online accommodation services at lower prices than usual. However, upon arrival, victims find their reservations nonexistent in the establishment’s system, revealing the scam.
According to PMGEN SIDNEY S HERNIA, Director, ACG, when planning your vacation, exercise utmost caution to evade potential scams. Conduct thorough research, rely on trusted websites for bookings, and refrain from providing personal or financial details online without verifying the legitimacy of the recipient. By staying vigilant, you can protect yourself and enjoy a worry-free vacation experience.
It is, indeed, important to be wary of unrealistic deals and always read reviews from other travelers. Also, if something seems suspicious, report it to the authorities.
PLT WALLEN MAE DS ARANCILLO
Public Information Officer, PNP ACG
2024.2.27，PNP ACG 逮捕假收据计划中的女性诈骗者。2024 年 2 月 21 日，马尼拉区反网络犯罪小组 (MDACT)、菲国警反网络犯罪小组 (PNP ACG) 的人员进行了一次诱捕行动，逮捕了化名“Sofia Lim”的案犯，嫌疑人现已在拉斯皮纳斯检察官办公室接受调查程序。受害人是一名销售来自泰国和日本的服装等进口商品的网上卖家，通过Facebook直播销售平台进行运营，犯罪嫌疑人成功从卖家处骗取了总计Php157,112.00。假收据计划涉及买家在未实际付款的情况下索要所购商品，他们提供虚假收据的屏幕截图或副本来欺骗卖家。然而，尽管提供了交易参考号，但当付款未能出现在卖家的帐户中时，骗局就会暴露。
PNP ACG ARRESTS FEMALE SCAMMER IN FAKE RECEIPT SCHEME
Manila, February 22, 2024 — On February 21, 2024, elements of Manila District Anti-Cybercrime Team (MDACT), PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP ACG) conducted an entrapment operation that resulted in the arrest of alias “Sofia Lim” for violation of Article 315 (Swindling/Estafa) as amended by RA 10951, in relation to Section 6 of RA 10175 (Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012). The suspect is now subject for Inquest Proceedings at Las Piñas Prosecutor’s Office
The victim is an online seller of imported goods such as clothing from Thailand and Japan who operates through Facebook Live Selling platform wherein the suspect managed to scam a total of Php157,112.00 from the seller.
The Fake Receipt Scheme involves buyers claiming payment for ordered items without actually paying. They provide a screenshot or copy of a fake receipt to deceive sellers. However, the scam is exposed when the payment fails to appear in the seller’s account, despite the provided transaction reference number.
PMGEN SIDNEY S HERNIA, Director, PNP ACG emphasized that, Sellers must always verify payments directly through your payment processor or bank account. Never rely solely on screenshots or copies of receipts provided by buyers. If you suspect any fraudulent activity, report it to the nearest PNP ACG Office immediately.
PLT WALLEN MAE DS ARANCILLO
Public Information Officer, PNP ACG
2023.10.28，菲律宾当局在马尼拉捣破一个报称是网吧、但怀疑经营卖淫及网络诈骗活动的犯罪场所，扣查近600人。当局周五突袭了位于帕赛市的菲律宾离岸博彩运营商 (POGO) 中心，此前有报道称存在非法活动，包括性交易、爱情和加密货币诈骗。在周六的媒体会议上，司法部长耶稣·克里斯平·雷穆拉 (Jesus Crispin Remulla) 表示，司法部、反人口贩运机构间委员会 (IACAT) 和网络犯罪办公室 (OOC)、总统反有组织犯罪委员会 (PAOCC) 的联合力量，菲律宾国家警察特别行动部队（SAF）、妇女和儿童保护中心（WCPC）以及廉洁监督和执法小组（IMEG）携带搜查令进行了这次突袭。当局检查该地点后，发现了大约 80 个房间，据称这些房间被用来进行涉及被贩运者的性行为。该店还设有一个“水族馆”，包括中国、越南、韩国和菲律宾妇女在内的卖淫受害者等待顾客“挑选”。雷穆拉表示，该场所为顾客提供了一个“自给自足”的社区，因为它包含的设施包括娱乐中心、KTV、食堂、理发店、餐厅和可疑的水疗“服务”。当局表示在场所内发现来自中国、韩国及越南的人，亦有菲律宾人，正进行进一步调查，确定他们是受害者抑或疑犯，又指今次是大规模行动，犯罪集团资本充足，透过贩运人口获取巨额利润。司法部表示，怀疑不法之徒利用场内电脑，进行加密货币交易及爱情诈骗案，又指行动期间在场有两名中国公民表示，他们是在违反个人意愿的情况下被犯罪集团扣押，身上有明显曾遭酷刑的痕迹，并在大楼四楼发现了刑具。报导指中国驻当地使领馆协助马尼拉当局认人。一名中国受害者称，他在五个月前被另一家离岸博彩运营商绑架并以 50 万比索的价格出售。与此同时，另一名受害者表示，他已被违背自己意愿地关押了一年多，并被迫每天工作 12 至 15 小时。据当局称，在搜查该场所时发现了 731 名工人。工人中既有外国人，也有菲律宾人。
The Philippines arrested nearly 600 people in an anti-human trafficking campaign
Philippine police busted a prostitution and online fraud ring in Manila, arrested nearly 600 people to identify human trafficking victims.
The Committee under the Philippine Presidential Office to Combat Organized Crime (PAOCC) announced on October 28 the search of a facility suspected of organizing prostitution and online fraud in the capital Manila metropolitan area the night before. 731 Philippine and foreign citizens were discovered here. Among these are Vietnamese, Korean and Chinese citizens.
Justice Minister Crispin Remulla said the investigation agency held 598 people for questioning and identifying victims and suspects.
Philippine officials also asked the Chinese embassy in Manila to help identify 9 individuals suspected of being a group of illegal operators masquerading as an online game company.
“This is a very sophisticated and profitable ring, making money through human trafficking,” Mr. Remulla described.
Police also discovered that inside the facility there were massage rooms, karaoke rooms and hotels. Investigators noted there was content promoting prostitution and related evidence in these rooms. On the 5th floor, police discovered at least 9 cash warehouses.
The investigation agency is applying for a license to examine the confiscated computers, with suspicion that they are a means of online fraud and virtual currency processing. A common tactic of fraudulent criminal organizations is to force human trafficking victims to become accomplices, tricking or threatening “prey” into investing in virtual currency.
PAOCC said they discovered at least two Chinese citizens with traces of torture on their bodies. These people said they were held against their will and forced to work about 15 hours a day. One person said he was kidnapped to an online gambling company in the Philippines, then sold for 500,000 pesos (more than 8,700 USD).
During the campaign in June, Philippine police discovered more than 2,700 people working in many fraudulent establishments in Manila, including many victims of human trafficking.
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POGO hub in Pasay raided over alleged sex trafficking, various scams
Authorities on Friday raided a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) hub in Pasay City following reports of illegal activities, including sex trafficking, love and crypto scams.
In a media conference on Saturday, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said joint forces of the Department of Justice-Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) and Office of Cybercrime (OOC), the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC), Philippine National Police-Special Action Force (SAF), Women and Children Protection Center (WCPC), and Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group (IMEG), armed with a search warrant, conducted the raid.
Upon inspection of the location, authorities discovered about 80 rooms which were allegedly used for sexual acts involving trafficked persons.
The establishment also has an “aquarium,” an area where victims of prostitution, including Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean, and Filipino women, wait to be “selected” by customers.
Remulla said the establishment served as a “self-contained” community for patrons, as it contained facilities including an entertainment center, KTVs, canteens, barber shops, restaurants and dubious spa “services.”
“Para siyang (It seemed to be a) one-stop shop for what you need or what you want for maybe sexually oriented activities,” he said.
As the raid was announced, two Chinese workers approached the authorities and claimed they were being held against their will. Torture marks were present on their bodies, and torture devices were recovered on the fourth floor of the building.
One of the Chinese victims said he was kidnapped and sold for P500,000 five months ago from another POGO operation. The other victim meanwhile said he had been held against his will for over a year and was made to work between 12 to 15 hours a day.
According to authorities, 731 workers were discovered during the search of the premises. The workers were a mix of foreigners and Filipinos.
Seven allegedly trafficked Filipino women were also rescued.
He added that some foreign nationals were allegedly being held and tortured inside the facility. About 10 Filipino women were also rescued.
Several computers possibly used for love and crypto scams were seized.
Nine foreign nationals who were allegedly behind the operation of the POGO hub are under investigation.
Remulla said authorities were now studying the complaints that could be filed against suspects.
Authorities were also investigating the documents of the establishment, which was constructed near the Pasay City Hall, a police station, and a barangay hall.
“This is a call to all our local government units to be wary of all activities that have to go with POGO to make sure that all their inspections are properly done,” Remulla said in a 24 Oras Weekend report by Saleema Refran on Saturday.
GMA Integrated News has sought comment from the Pasay City LGU but the city government had yet to respond as of posting time. — DVM, GMA Integrated News
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