Three foreigners and two Filipinos allegedly offering spurious assistance to victims of cryptocurrency scam were arrested on Thursday, Jun Veneracion reported on “24 Oras.”
According to the Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG), the group’s online modus is to assist cryptocurrency scam victims in recovering their money.
The suspects ask the victims to download a mobile application and open a new crypto-wallet for the victims to store the money.
“Double whammy, na-scam ka na previously because of the crypto na nawala sa iyo, and once you try to recover it again ini-scam ka na naman nila so dalawang beses ka na scam,” said PNP-ACG spokesperson Police Captain Michelle Sabino.
During the operation, one of the suspects allegedly tried to hide the flash drive that could be used as evidence against them.
Due to this, he will face charges of obstruction of justice and for violating the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012, along with other suspects.
“Itong tatlong foreigners sila ‘yung mga maintainers and owners and then ‘yung dalawang Filipinos sila ‘yung kukuha ng bibiktimahin sila yung chatter,” said Sabino.
“We don’t know why we’re here. I’m sorry what? We don’t know why we’re here,” said one of the suspects while his other companions refused to give a statement.
It was also discovered that the suspects’ illegal business had been operating for two years.
The PNP-ACG is still investigating the number of people they have victimized and how much money was involved.–Sherylin Untalan/LDF, GMA Integrated News
