NBI nabs 20 Pogo workers in Parañaque scam hub

The National Bureau of Investigation in Manila

MANILA, Philippines – The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Friday announced the arrest of 20 foreign nationals operating an illegal Philippine offshore gaming operator (Pogo) hub in Parañaque City.

In a statement on Friday, the NBI said the suspects were arrested in an operation on Feb. 25 at Aseana 3, West Tower, 8912 Avenue, following a complaint of the wife of a Chinese national working for a Pogo company operating under the trade name “LWE.”

READ: BI deports 98 Chinese nationals working for Pogo

READ: 401 foreign nationals nabbed in alleged Pasay Pogo hub – PAOCC

She alleged that her husband, who worked as a customer service representative, was being held against his will by his employers.

During the operation, agents of the NBI Special Task Force uncovered a fully operational online scam hub.

The arrested foreigners have been charged before the city prosecutor’s office for violating Section 4(b)(1) (Social Engineering Schemes) of Republic Act (RA) 12010, or the Anti-Financial Account Scamming Act (AFASA) in relation to RA 10175, or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.

The NBI did not identify the arrested individuals except for one Liu Zhi Tao, also known as Ren Jia, who faces additional charges of serious illegal detention over the complaint of the wife of the Chinese kidnapping victim.