Office allegedly used for cyber scams abandoned?

Local

WHAT looked like just another office in Barangay Kasambagan, Cebu City turned into a ghost den of alleged cyber scams after a viral video blew the lid off its dark side.

Authorities from Police Regional Office-Central Visayas (PRO 7) and Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) on Tuesday, May 20, inspected the business process outsourcing firm caught in the crosshairs of a social media exposé.

The video, posted by YouTuber "mrwn," showed call agents masquerading as foreigners to lure investors in African countries into fake online investment schemes.

By the time police arrived, the second-floor office was empty, computers humming quietly amid abandoned personal belongings.

Investigators said the space was sub-leased to the alleged scammers, who fled after the video went viral. The raid is part of a growing crackdown on global cyber fraud.

Brig. Gen. Redrico Maranan, PRO 7 director, led the inspection alongside CCPO Director Col. Enrico Figueroa.

During the inspection, Maranan said authorities are working to secure a cyber warrant to examine the seized computers and devices.

The police official emphasized that this was how law enforcement responds to cyber fraud.

"Kami naman sa law enforcement agency sa Philippine National Police ay patuloy kami mag mamanman, patuloy kaming tatalima sa aming mandato at katulad nito, ito'y nabunyag sa pamamagitan ng Facebook at ng isang hacker," he said.

(We in the law enforcement agency of the Philippine National Police will continue to monitor and fulfill our mandate, and just like in this case, it was exposed through Facebook and a hacker.)

Maranan urged those using cyberspace for illegal activities to stop, warning that the public is now more vigilant and will report such schemes to authorities.

He noted that the alleged scam operation was exposed through social media by a hacker, and encouraged tech-savvy individuals with similar skills to report any suspicious activities they uncover to law enforcement agencies.

"Tayo ay nanawagan sa lahat ng may mga skill na ganoon na ipagbigay-alam sa lahat ng law enforcement agency kung sakaling mayroon silang ma discover," he added

(We are calling on everyone with those kinds of skills to report to all law enforcement agencies if they discover anything.)

He confirmed that police already have a list of the employees connected to the operation and urged them to cooperate.

Maranan said authorities are giving the employees a chance to clear their names, urging those uninvolved to visit the CCPO and explain their side.

He warned that those who refuse to cooperate and continue to hide will face criminal charges and could face a minimum of 12 years in prison.

Police said about 30 to 40 individuals were believed to be working in the operation. All involved in the operations are Filipinos, however, their addresses of origin are yet to be confirmed.

Figueroa, for his part, said the alleged scam had raised suspicions among neighbors even before the exposé.

“Medyo nagdududa sila umpisa pa lang dahil hindi normal. Maraming naghihiyawan, maraming nagtatugtugan, parang hindi legit na office,” he said.

(They were already suspicious from the beginning because it didn’t seem normal. There was a lot of shouting, loud music playing—like it wasn’t a legitimate office.)

He added that the equipment found in the office appeared fully operational before it was abandoned.

Figueroa also noted that the site had stopped operations since May 16 and that a show cause order was issued to the management and those who undertook the sub-leasing.

“We will identify everyone,” he said, referring to potential identities captured on CCTV. He said the building owner may also be held liable if proven aware of the illicit nature of the operations.

The police is now working with the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group and the Business Permit and Licensing Office in building a case under the Anti-Cybercrime Law.(MyTVCebu)