86 aliens working for scam hub nabbed in Makati
The Bureau of Immigration (BI) will deport 86 foreigners arrested during a raid on an alleged scam hub at a condominium on Sen. Gil Puyat Avenue in Makati City.
In a statement on Tuesday, the BI said its Fugitive Search Unit, in coordination with the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), apprehended 86 individuals, composed of 82 Chinese, three Malaysians, and a Vietnamese, on April 10.
The raid was conducted based on intelligence reports that a syndicate was allegedly forcing foreign nationals to work as online scammers.
According to a report from the CIDG-National Capital Region Field Unit, the case stemmed from a distress message sent via WhatsApp by a Chinese national who claimed he was being held against his will at his workplace.
Further case build-up by the CIDG showed the syndicate was using e-commerce and love scam tactics to collect money from their victims. None of the 86 foreigners could present valid documents proving their legal work or residence status in the Philippines, the BI said.
All of them will undergo booking and documentation procedures before being transferred to the BI Warden’s Facility at Camp Bagong Diwa in Bicutan, Taguig, where they will be processed for deportation.
