9 suspects linked to voice phishing scam nabbed

Nine persons who pretended to be bankers to steal money from credit card holders were arrested by the authorities in Trece Martires and General Trias in Cavite.

According to a "24 Oras" report by Jun Veneracion, the Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG) discovered that the group started to operate in 2021 and has earned more than P100 million through their voice phishing scam. 

“Meron po kayong credit card na ganito, na mage-expire na po yan, may nakita kaming points na pwede natin i-convert sa cash. Kukunin ang pangalan mo, bobolahin ka, pero ang puno’t dulo, yung one time pin,” said PNP-ACG Cyber Response Unity Chief, Police Colonel Jay Guillermo. 

(You have a credit card, which is about to expire, we found some points that can be converted into cash. Your name will be asked, and you will be scammed, but the bottom line is the one-time pin.)

The authorities recovered pieces of paper with the script that the suspects would read to their victims. 

“Dating nagta-trabaho sa call center, kaya alam nila, paano makipag-usap, paano makipagdeal sa mga nabibiktima nila online,” said Guillermo. 

(They used to work in a call center, so they know how to communicate, and how to deal with those they victimize online.) 

“Mga cellphone, mga gadgets, mga transaction details nila, paano sila bumibili ng mga SIM cards at cellphone,” he added. 

(Cellphones, gadgets, their transaction details, how they buy sim cards and cellphones.)

Guillermo said from 2021 to 2023, the number of victims of voice phishing has increased alarmingly.

“Based dun sa nakita natin figure from 2021 to 2023, P115 million. Tumaas ang krimen na ito, after nung pandemic eh. Maliit ang figure ng complaints, pero ang nawawala sa biktima, milyon na pera,” he said. 

(Based on the figure from 2021 to 2023, P115 million. This crime has increased, after the pandemic. The number of complaints is small, but the victim is missing millions.)

The nine suspects, who refused to testify and are being held at Camp Crame, have been charged with violating the Access Devices Regulation Act. 

Moreover, the PNP has also contacted the management of the banks to run after those who passed on the information of the depositors of the various banks.—Sherylin Untalan/LDF, GMA Integrated News