Nine South Korean nationals were arrested this week for allegedly operating an online loan fraud scheme out of a condominium in Parañaque City, authorities said Thursday.

The arrests, a joint operation by the Bureau of Immigration (BI) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), began on the evening of 25 June and continued into the early hours of 26 June.

The operation initially targeted two foreign fugitives, but investigators discovered nine additional individuals, aged 29 to 31, who were allegedly running online scam platforms.

“According to a representative from the Korean government, the setup bore the hallmarks of an international online loan fraud operation targeting victims abroad,” the BI said.

The suspects were found at computer stations equipped with pre-written scripts, which authorities believe were used for illegal lending activities.

The BI disclosed that the group had been operating the online loan scam for several months, reportedly starting around the time the Philippine government-imposed restrictions on Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators.

The nine individuals are currently detained at the NBI’s Organized and Transnational Crime Division. They will be transferred to the BI Warden Facility after processing.

BI commissioner Joel Anthony Viado stated that the BI is collaborating with local and international law enforcement agencies to prevent the Philippines from being used as a base for cybercrime.