3 Chinese nationals nabbed for online crypto scam – BI

Three Chinese nationals were recently arrested in Sta. Cruz, Manila for allegedly running an online cryptocurrency scam that targeted investors in Hong Kong, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) said.

The BI’s Fugitive Search Unit (FSU) apprehended the foreigners at a hotel along Tomas Mapua Street on November 7.

BI commissioner Joel Anthony Viado assured that they will continue to protect the public from scams perpetrated by foreign nationals.

“The BI will continue to aggressively pursue foreign nationals who violate Philippine laws, whether through overstaying, scams, or other criminal activities. No one is above the law,” Viado said in a statement.

Law enforcers first arrested two Chinese nationals aged 27 and 37, respectively. A third Chinese national aged 50 years old was also found at the same premises while allegedly manning their online activities.

One of the suspects acted as the manager overseeing their overall operations, while another acted as a supervisor responsible for day-to-day operations.

The group allegedly manned their fictitious cryptocurrency investment scheme from a hotel room in Sta. Cruz, targeting investors in Hong Kong.

Two of the arrested Chinese nationals were overstaying aliens, while all three failed to present valid passports or valid immigration documents when asked by the BI.

The foreigners were brought to the BI warden facility in Taguig City for booking, documentation, and verification. The BI said the deportation proceedings against the foreigners are ongoing. — JMA, GMA Integrated News