Nearly 500 arrested for online scam, overpricing amid pandemic –DTI chief

At least 500 people were arrested for scam and overpricing in online selling during  buy-bust operations amid the quarantine period, Department and Trade Industry (DTI) Secretary Ramon Lopez said Thursday.

According to him, his department has been working with an intelligence team from the PNP's Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), and National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).

“Minsan po nagba-buy bust pa ang aming team. Aside from DTI, meron po tayong intelligence group from PNP-CIDG at NBI,” Lopez said in an interview on GMA’s Unang Hirit.

“Dahil po naging successful naman ang ating campaign, kulang sa 500 na po ang nahuli diyan,” he added.

According to Lopez, most of the violations involved selling fake or below standard products and overpricing.

Thus, Lopez encouraged the public to report to the DTI if they encounter similar experiences with their purchase through its consumer hotline 1-384.

In April, NBI Cybercrime Division chief Victor Lorenzo reported that cybercrime incidents in the Philippines rose by 100% amid the enhanced community quarantine. —Joviland Rita/LBG, GMA News