PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group has again issued an advisory urging the public, particularly the elderly, to be vigilant about fraudulent phone calls made by falsely claiming to be bank employees, who attempt to trick them into giving them credit card information or other personal information.
In Cavite province, nine suspected Vishing scammers who were allegedly targeting bank depositors to commit 'voice phishing fraud' (voice phishing) were nabbed on Wednesday night after being suspected in the scam.
During the execution of warrants to search, seize, and analyze computer data (WSSECD), Brig. Gen. Ronnie Cariaga, chief of ACG, stated that the arrest was made in response to an arrest warrant for April Joy Espino, 34, for committing computer-related fraud as outlined in Republic Act No. 10175.
In 2012, the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 was passed which prohibited cybercrime.
9 individuals have been arrested by the Cyber Response Unit of the Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG) for violating Republic Act 10175, otherwise known as the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012, in violation of computer-related fraud. One of those arrested is a 34-year-old female.
On July 24, around 9:10 at night, eight members of a police team were deployed to arrest the suspects, when the warrant was implemented to search, seize, and examine computer data from the office of alias Apol at the General Trias City office and her residence in Trece Martires City, Cavite, during the execution of a warrant.
A raid was conducted following the notification of victims of computer-related fraud through phone phishing scams, which was initiating the raid. According to the Philippine National Police (PNP) Anti-Cybercrime Group (ACG), nine people in the Cavite region were arrested on Wednesday for participating in voice phishing or vishing scams using voice messages.
A spokesperson for the Philippine National Police-ACG has confirmed that the arrest was the result of a two-year surveillance and case-building operation, which they conducted after receiving dozens of complaints from victims about the alleged abuse.
Upon the initiation of the operation, a female named "APol" had been identified as the operational's primary target as a result of the previous investigation.
The arrest was carried out following a series of measures aimed at seizing various items used by the scammers, such as registered SIM cards, ICT devices, bank documents, and scripts used for calling and contacting victims during the development of the scam.
To collect evidence, the cyber police conducted an investigation, built the case, and conducted surveillance for almost eight months to gather all the necessary evidence for their investigation.
The scam operation was also involving eight other individuals, which was discovered after the investigation was completed. They pretended to be bank employees on the phone and deceitfully obtained money from the victims' accounts by deceiving them into believing they were bank employees.
SIM cards registered in the name of the individual were seized, and information and communication technology devices, bank documents, scripts, and information regarding several bank accounts and credit cards containing different personal information were also seized.
It should be noted that BGen Ronnie Francis Cariaga, acting director of the PNP-ACG, accordingly stated, "The PNP-ACG is relying on the cooperation of financial institutions to assist in the investigation, strengthen the evidence, prepare for filing the cases, and expedite the process.".
During this time frame, the PNP-ACG wishes to remind the public that if a voice phishing scheme has victimized them, they should inform the nearest ACG office so that appropriate police assistance can be provided and further illegal acts can be prevented. Moreover, the PNP ACG will also be in contact with the victims identified in the collected evidence so they can obtain assistance in filing a complaint," according to the officer.
