The Philippine police conducted a pre-dawn raid on a Chinese-run scam center in Manila on Thursday, August 22, 2024, in a major crackdown on fraudulent activities
The operation led to the arrest of dozens of Filipino and foreign workers who were allegedly involved in deceiving individuals into investing in a "manipulated" trading platform.
The scam center, which operated under the guise of a licensed online gaming company, was found to be running various fraudulent schemes, including a "crypto-currency investment scam" and a "love scam."
Employees posed as wealthy models to lure victims into investing in the manipulated platform. Among the 67 foreigners arrested were 58 Chinese nationals, along with individuals from Malaysia, Myanmar, Indonesia, and Vietnam. Additionally, 32 Filipinos were detained.
The facility's owner and manager, both Chinese nationals, were also apprehended. According to police statements, some Filipino employees claimed they were coerced into working as scammers, with threats of unspecified consequences if they refused.
These employees were even made to "dress in a seductive manner" and engage in "lascivious conduct" to attract potential victims.
This raid follows President Ferdinand Marcos' recent ban on online gambling operators due to their links to scams, kidnapping, human trafficking, and murder.
The crackdown was further fueled by public outcry over allegations involving a local mayor, Alice Leal Guo, who was accused of being a Chinese citizen fraudulently obtaining Filipino citizenship to run for office. Guo has since fled the country, prompting Marcos to vow that "heads will roll" for those who aided her escape.
Authorities believe that numerous illegal online gambling entities, as well as several licensed operators, are operating scam centers under the radar of public officials.
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