Chinese national nabbed for home-based, large-scale online scams – BI

A Chinese national was recently arrested in Pasay City for his alleged involvement in large-scale online scams that targeted both foreigners and Filipinos, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) said on Monday.

In a statement, the BI said its Fugitive Search Unit implemented a mission order on November 4, Tuesday, at a condominium unit in Pasay City.

The operation led to the arrest of a 33-year-old Chinese national, who was suspected of involvement in online fraud and phishing activities that victimized both Filipinos and foreigners.

The law enforcement operation stemmed from a formal request from the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center, which sought help in tracking the suspect’s activities.

Authorities cited intelligence reports linking the foreigner to online financial scams.

The Chinese national was allegedly running his scam operations through a “work-from-home” setup that used several laptops in his fraud operations.

He was also allegedly associated with a scam hub in Makati City that was dismantled earlier this year.

BI records also showed that the foreigner arrived in the Philippines in 2019 as a temporary visitor and that his last visa extension expired in 2022, making him an overstaying alien.

He is also facing a BI blacklist order issued in 2023 for overstaying.

BI commissioner Joel Anthony Viado said the BI’s continued coordination with the CICC and the National Bureau of Investigation in arresting the Chinese national is proof of the government’s commitment to stop online fraud and protect Filipinos from financial exploitation.

“Foreign nationals who engage in these criminal schemes or violate immigration laws will be arrested, prosecuted, and removed from the country,” Viado added.

The Chinese national was turned over to the BI’s warden facility where he shall be detained, pending deportation proceedings against him. — JMA, GMA Integrated News