DOJ busts ‘pocket’ Pogo scam ops in Ayala Alabang raids

Eight foreigners—seven Chinese and a Vietnamese—were arrested in a series of raids inside the exclusive Ayala Alabang Village in Muntinlupa City for alleged involvement in scamming activities linked to Philippine offshore gaming operators (Pogos), according to the Department of Justice (DOJ).

“The operation confirms the trend that from larger Pogo scam hubs composed of several buildings, they have reduced their operation to pocket groups in residential areas,” the agency said on Wednesday.

The DOJ, working with the National Bureau of Investigation, acted on intelligence reports gathered from residents, the police and local authorities. Arrest warrants issued on some of the foreign nationals and a mission order from the Bureau of Immigration (BI) led to the coordinated operations.

‘Pogo boss’ residence

According to the department, the first target identified was a house where a “Pogo boss” from Porac, Pampanga, had reportedly moved in. Three Chinese occupants were arrested here—two of them had passports but were already overstaying in the country, while the third could not provide any travel document.

“Upon entry, there was a live computer operated by a Chinese individual. When read by an interpreter, the screen showed scripts used in a standard phishing scam,” the DOJ said.

Phishing is a type of online scam targeting consumers by sending them an e-mail that appears to be from a reputable source such as an internet service provider or a bank. It asks the unsuspecting consumer to provide personal information such as bank details that the scammers use to steal the victim’s money.

The DOJ also reported the suspects’ use of voice-over-internet protocol equipment, which enables users to make voice calls using a broadband internet connection instead of a regular phone line, making detection more difficult.

At another raided location, which was the subject of a mission order from the BI, four Chinese and a Vietnamese were arrested.

Lacking proper documentation, they were listed in the mission order as illegal aliens, with one of the Chinese suspected of serving as the facilitator of their unlawful stay in the country.

The DOJ noted that the shift from larger scam hubs to smaller, more discreet operations in residential areas had emerged as a “natural trend” following President Marcos’ order in July to ban Pogos and have them wrap up their operations by the end of the year.

“However, the department also sees this as the Pogo companies’ desperate last effort before leaving the country,” it added.

An inter-agency body created after the ban was announced, the Pogo Closure Task Force, earlier clarified that after the issuance of the President’s order, Pogo activities would be limited to selling their office assets, settling bills and paying taxes.

Any other business operation that continued beyond that point were thus illegal, the DOJ said.

Dispersed operations

Last week, following the arrest of 17 foreign nationals in a raid on a suspected scam center in Makati City, NBI chief Jaime Santiago noted that Pogos have scattered into smaller groups to avoid detection.

Fifteen Chinese nationals, a Malaysian and a Taiwanese were caught engaging in online scamming in Barangay Tejeros after the NBI enforced a warrant to search, seize and examine computer data in the premises.

“In our initial investigation, those who were arrested were part of the communications group. They are the ones who entice and chat with victims,” NBI agent Terence Lomas-e said. “There is another group, which is remotely located, who receives the money.”

Having different units for finance, communications and administrative tasks is one of the strategies Pogos employ to continue operations so that even when one gets caught, the rest can continue, said NBI Cybercrime Division chief Jeremy Lotoc.