BI nabs Chinese national running crypto scam at home

A Chinese national was arrested in Paranaque City for allegedly running a home-based cryptocurrency investment scam and violating the country’s immigration law.

The Bureau of Immigration said the 41-year-old foreigner was apprehended at a condominium unit along Diosdado Macapagal Boulevard.

The BI’s Fugitive Search Unit said the suspect was caught in the act of operating a workstation and facilitating a cryptocurrency scam.

The BI also cited intelligence reports that another Chinese national, who was the initial subject of the operation, was running the online fraud operation with other accomplices.

The arrested suspect was found to be working in the Philippines without a permit and an overstaying alien, as he did not apply for a visa extension since October 2024.

The foreigner is currently in the custody of the Philippine National Police’s Criminal Investigation Group for an in-depth investigation after drug paraphernalia was also found at his workstation.

The BI will also initiate deportation proceedings against the suspect, who will be also blacklisted from re-entering the Philippines. — JMA, GMA Integrated News