Philippines arrests more than 350 Chinese online scammers

Philippine police said on August 23 they had arrested more than 350 people linked to a major telephone scam network that swindled millions of dollars in China and Taiwan.

It was the biggest single-day operation against organized crime in the Southeast Asian country. At least 357 people, mostly from China and Taiwan, were arrested in a series of raids on 20 homes across the capital Manila.

The group impersonated police officers, prosecutors, court officials or insurance companies to call victims, claiming that their accounts were being used for illegal activities such as money laundering or terrorist financing. They then convinced the victims to transfer all the money in their accounts to an account provided by them.

According to Deputy Commander Idio, this gang operates very carefully, thoroughly investigating the victims. They choose to operate inPhilippinesto evade Chinese police. Many computers and telephone systems were seized during the raids.

A police investigatorPhilippinessaid that not much information could be extracted from the suspects because they were not cooperating.

This scam network takes members toPhilippinesin small groups. PolicePhilippinesThe investigation began after breaking up a similar gang, arresting 78 Taiwanese in the southern Philippines in April.

A police investigatorPhilippinessaid that not much information could be extracted from the suspects because they were not cooperating.(Source: AFP)

According to VNA-M