Suspected text scammer has P100 million worth of credits in 50 cellphones

A suspected text scam operator, who allegedly managed to gather P100 million worth of airtime credits in 50 mobile phones, has been arrested by the National Bureau of Investigation, GMA News' "24 Oras" reported on Friday.

The report identified the suspect as Roan Sia, alias Mark Tan.

“Sa kasalukuyan iniimbestigahan ng ating mga operatiba [ang kaso] para alamin kung sino ba ang mga behind this scheme,” said lawyer Jun De Guzman, head of the NBI Special Investigation Service.

The NBI said Sia's modus operandi was to send random text messages to strangers while pretending to ba a friend or relative to get credits through the mobile networks' load-sharing services.

Sia will then have the airtime credits encashed through the telecommunications companies money transfer services.

He is facing various charges including large scale estafa and for violating the Access Device Act. -Andrei Medina/NB, GMA News