PH, China police join forces vs telecom fraud targeting Chinese nationals
MANILA, Philippines—Despite the standoff between China and the Philippines over the disputed West Philippine Sea, police forces of both countries merged to bust a telecommunication fraud involving Taiwanese suspects in Pampanga.
Operatives of Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group and Ministry of Public Safety of People’s Republic of China arrested on Thursday last week 20 Taiwanese nationals, two Chinese and one Filipino for allegedly operating a telecom fraud victimizing Chinese individuals.
Senior Superintendent Gilbert Sosa, PNP ACG director, said in a belated report that a certain Wang Ben, PRC Embassy’s police attache, sought PNP’s assistance in shutting down the illegal operation.
The fraud happens when the suspects phone in their victims and pose as government officials like “Police Officer,” “Judge,” “Prosecutor,” or an official from a financial institution.
The suspect will threaten to freeze the bank accounts of the victims, saying they are involved in money laundering activities, fraud or other crimes.
Following the orders of the fake government officials, the victims then transfer all their money to a so-called “Security bank account of Financial Supervision Center.”
After transferring the money, the callers can no longer be contacted by the victims.
According to Sosa, the suspects target individuals from Mainland China.
The authorities confiscated passbooks, mobile phones, identification cards, closed-circuit television cameras, documents, laptops, network devices, telephone sets, computers and a motorcycle with no plate number believed to be used in pulling off the crime.
During the investigation, the police found that one of the Taiwanese suspects, Chen Chien Fan, is a fugitive listed most wanted by the Taiwan Taoyuan District Prosecutor’s Office for an illegal drug case.
The suspects will be charged with violation of Republic Act 8484 or Access Devices Regulation Act of 1998.
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