A Chinese and two Malaysian were arrested on Tuesday morning for allegedly running a scam hub in Pasay City, where they operated their “parcel scam.”
In an operation by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), authorities rescued around 150 foreign workers at the scam hub. Among the rescued were Malaysians, Chinese, and Vietnamese, but most were Indonesians, according to a “24 Oras” report by Oscar Oida.
Authorities also discovered police uniforms, caps, patches, and rooms designed to look like a police headquarters.
According to the Philippine National Police (PNP), the operation was prompted by information from international partners and three Indonesians who managed to escape from the hub to seek help.
“This is on the basis of the complaint or information by our international partners, specifically from Malaysia, Indonesia, and Vietnam. Merong tatlong Indonesian who escaped the premises at humingi sila ng tulong sa Philippine National Police,” PNP Chief P/Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said.
(This is on the basis of the complaint or information by our international partners, specifically from Malaysia, Indonesia, and Vietnam. There were three Indonesians who escaped the premises and asked for help from the Philippine National Police.)
Reportedly, the parcel scam targeted individuals in other countries, particularly Vietnam and Indonesia, where operators would call victims while pretending to represent a courier company.
P/Col. John Guiagui of the CIDG-National Capital Region explained that workers at the scam hub would pretend that a parcel was addressed to the victim.
A fake police officer would then call, claiming that the parcel addressed to the victim contained illegal drugs and that their properties were at risk.
“May dadalahing parcel sa iyo, then walang darating. Then may biglang tatawag na police officer wearing these uniforms here. [Ang] sasabihin, ‘Yung parcel na dadalhin sa iyo… nahuli namin yung parcel na ito is droga. Kasama ka sa iimbestigahan lahat ng properties mo, pera mo, kukunin, mafi-freeze ‘yan or kukunin in favor of the government,’” Guiagui said.
(A parcel is supposedly set for delivery, but nothing arrives. Then a police officer wearing these uniforms here suddenly calls. They will say, ‘The parcel to be delivered to you… We intercepted it and found drugs inside. You are included in the investigation, and all your properties and money will be confiscated, frozen, or forfeited in favor of the government.’)
After establishing this scenario, another individual would identify himself as a police officer and would follow up with the target, claiming to offer assistance.
“Sasabihin kunwari, ‘Under investigation ka, tutulungan ka namin para ‘di ka ma-freeze, ‘di ka magkakaroon ng criminal records [at] hindi maapektuhan ‘yung ari-arian mo pati pera mo,’” Guiagui explained.
(They will say, ‘You are under investigation, but we will help you avoid freezing your assets, acquiring a criminal record, or losing your property and money.)
“Along the way, sasabihin, ‘Patingin nga ng bank statement mo.’ Pag makikita nila na may maii-scam sila doon, magbibigay sila ng account number. Importante hindi ma-freeze ng gobyerno o any investigating agency. Once na mai-deposit mo, that’s it. Thank you [tapos] mawawala na ‘yung pera mo,” he added.
(Along the way, they will ask, ‘Can we see your bank statement?’ Once they confirm that they can scam the victim, they will ask for an account number, claiming it is crucial to protect the funds from being frozen by the government or an investigating agency. Once the victim deposits the money, that’s it—thank you, and your money is gone.)
The PNP said it is continuously coordinating with international counterparts to hold the individuals behind the operation accountable.
“With the help of our Indonesian Police and others, ay mapo-prosecute natin ito and we will share the necessary pieces of evidence to pursue cases against these personalities, lalong-lalo na ‘yung mga mastermind dito,” Nartatez said.
(With the help of the Indonesian Police and others, we will prosecute this case and share the necessary pieces of evidence to pursue charges against these personalities, especially the masterminds.) —Lyjah Tiffany Bonzo/LDF, GMA News
