7 nabbed in Pampanga for cyber scams

The National Bureau of Investigation has arrested seven individuals allegedly involved in various cyber scams in Angeles City, Pampanga.

A statement on Friday said a joint operation by NBI Pampanga and the 301st Special Mission Group, 300th Air Intelligence Security Wing of the Philippine Air Force was conducted after they received information about a company called “FXTM USDT Forex Trading” allegedly operating a cryptocurrency scamming hub in Barangay Salapungan, Angeles City.

The company allegedly targets foreigners from US, Middle East, and Europe to invest in their platform using social engineering, love scam, impersonation scam, phishing link, and malicious websites.

 A two-month surveillance operation and cyber-patrolling by the NBI led to the arrest of the suspects.

Over 85 units of desktop computers, 114 units of assorted cellular phones, various SIM cards and used SIM card chips, and various documents containing e-mails, passwords, and cryptocurrency wallet addresses were also seized during the operation.

Investigators found out that the real name of the company was “FMD Non-Voices Outsourcing Services”.

All seven suspects, including four others not present during the raid, face charges for Computer-Related Fraud under the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.—Jiselle Anne Casucian/AOL, GMA Integrated News