Operatives of the National Bureau of Investigation-National Capital Region (NBI-NCR) pounced on a call center company in Cebu City for alleged involvement in investment scam that swindled Australian nationals.

Equipped with a search warrant, the operatives stormed into the call center located on the fourth floor of a commercial building along Osmeña Boulevard.

There were employees on duty when the operation was carried out.

Four Australian nationals complained against the call center for alleged illegal activities after they invested close to 1.3 million Australian dollars equivalent to P47 million.

With the assistance of international specialists on cybercrime investigation, the foreigners coordinated with a lawyer in the Philippines to ask help from the NBI. 

“They scam foreign clients to give investment, get more details from their client for them to invest more,” Gary Ruiz, NBI-NCR special investigator, said.

Personnel from the Securities and Exchange Commission also joined the operation. 

Based on NBI documents, the company operates as a call center. However, it has participated in investment operation.

"For as long as they can be issued a secondary license for them to be authorized to secure, trade, sell, invest stocks, shares, commodities, cryptocurrencies, pero wala,” Ruiz added. 

Barangay Kalubihan Councilwoman Susan Origenes and Sangguniang Kabataan chairperson Fiona Mar Pradero said they are not familiar with the company as it does not even have a permit from the barangay. 

An Israeli national, determined as one of the administrators of the call center, was arrested.

An Australian national, who was part of the documenting team, tried to establish conversation between the Israeli and an evidently irate complainant through a video call.

However, the Israeli national kept mum.

"You will suffer, like you’ve done to us, you are a scum, scum of the earth, you are not a human being, you rot, mate,” the Australian complainant was heard ranting through the video call.

No employee faced the camera for an interview, but off-cam some admitted to persuading clients to invest in the platform as part of their job tasks.

"If the client is not interested, that script has some rebuttals in them na eventually will convince the client na baka totoo ito; tine-train ang empleyado," Ruiz added.

Charges for violation of the Securities and Exchange Regulation Code and the Cybercrime Prevention Act will be filed against the Israeli national.