20 arrested for financial scam in Pasay City

Twenty individuals were arrested by agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) as the bureau intensified its campaign against criminality.

Report showed the NBI-Technical Intelligence Division (NBI-TID) arrested four Chinese nationals and 16 Filipinos in Pasay City.

They were charged for violations Republic Act No. 12010 (Anti-Financial Account Scamming Act), specifically Section 4(b)(1) (Social Engineering Schemes) and Section 4(c)(1) (Economic Sabotage), in relation to Republic Act No. 10175 (Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012), Republic Act No. 9287 (Anti-Illegal Gambling), Section 3(d), in relation to Section 6 of Republic Act No. 10175, Republic Act No. 10175 (Cybercrime Prevention Act), Section 4(a)(5)(i)(aa) (Misuse of Devices).

NBI Director Jaime Santiago said the operation was initiated after a confidential informant reported an alleged cryptocurrency scamming hub operating in a condominium in Pasay City.

The informant, who was hired as a Customer Service Representative, described

continuous scamming activity targeting foreigners from Asia, Europe, and other countries.

Her role involved luring potential victims into investing in a fraudulent crypto trading platform through various messaging applications.

Agents of the NBI-TID applied for two Warrants to Search, Seize, and Examine Computer Data (WSSECD), which were granted by the Pasay City Regional Trial Court, Branch 116.

Operatives from  the NBI-TID and the Digital Forensic

Laboratory Division (DFLD) on 12 August 2025, executed the warrants at the condominium. Seized and confiscated during the operation are several computers, laptops, cellphones, and text blasters used in the criminal activities, leading to the apprehension of the 20 individuals.

The subjects were presented for inquest proceedings before the Pasay City Prosecutor’s Office for the aforementioned violations. The WSSECDs were subsequently returned to the issuing court.

Santiago commended the NBI-TID for their unwavering commitment to investigating recent scamming activities, emphasizing their efforts not only uncovered crucial evidence but also culminated in the successful arrests.