200 Vietnamese nationals found in alleged Olongapo scam hub

National

BEHIND a system of round-the-clock shifts and a dedicated payments desk, an alleged online scam operation in Olongapo City came under scrutiny, leading to a raid that secured around 200 Vietnamese nationals.

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI)-Pampanga District Office conducted the raid Thursday night, Oct. 22, under a warrant to search, seize and examine computer data issued by the Olongapo City Regional Trial Court Branch 73.

The operation followed a month of surveillance and intelligence gathering.

Agents seized computers, mobile phones and documents that pointed to an organized operation with rotating work shifts and a dedicated payments desk for processing deposits and withdrawals through a network of bank and e-wallet accounts.

Staff schedules also indicated that teams were assigned to targets in the Philippines, the United Arab Emirates and Bangladesh, according to the NBI.

The bureau is screening the Vietnamese nationals to determine whether any were victims of human trafficking.

Those found to have been recruited through deception or held against their will would be treated as trafficking victims under Republic Act 9208.

To address the nationals’ welfare and legal status, the NBI is coordinating with the Bureau of Immigration, the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking and the Vietnamese embassy. The agencies are also assessing documentation requirements and possible repatriation.

Investigators are preparing complaints against individuals allegedly involved in organizing, managing and financing the operation. The possible charges include violations of the Anti-Financial Account Scamming Act, Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012, Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2001 and the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act, as amended.

According to a Philstar report, NBI Director Melvin Matibag said that the investigation would focus on tracing the flow of funds and identifying individuals who allegedly supplied bank accounts and e-wallets used to facilitate the operation’s transactions.

The bureau is working with the Anti-Money Laundering Council and concerned financial institutions to identify and freeze accounts suspected of being used by the alleged scam hub.

The investigation into the operation’s organizers, financial transactions and foreign connections remains ongoing.(MyTVCebu)