5 Chinese scammers nabbed in Pampanga

MANILA, Philippines — Five Chinese nationals tagged in online scam activities have been arrested by agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in Pampanga.

Operatives of the NBI-Criminal Intelligence Division (CRID) on Thursday raided a property in an exclusive subdivision in Angeles City following information that a Chinese fugitive identified as Bao Long, whose real name is Wang Dan Yu, was spotted in the area.

Bao was reportedly the mastermind in the kidnapping of a 14-year-old Chinese student in Taguig in February.

The kidnappers reportedly severed a finger of the victim.

The student, who was reportedly seized by a group of retired military personnel hired by former Philippine offshore gaming operators or POGOs, was rescued on Feb. 25.

“Bao is notorious for killing not only Chinese, but also Filipinos,” Noel Bocaling, assistant director of the NBI Intelligence Service, told journalists on Friday. “He is becoming a muscle for scam hubs.”

Bao was not around when the NBI raided the property where the five suspects were caught engaging in love and cryptocurrency scam.

“The Chinese embassy has called us to know the identities of the suspects. Embassy officials want the suspects deported for victimizing their fellow Chinese,” Bocaling said.

He said the suspects paid P80,000 in monthly rentals to the caretaker of the property.

Bocaling said the amount was higher than the P50,000 usually charged by property owners in the area.

The NBI said it would subject to forensic examination all computers and laptops recovered at the site.

Charges for violating the Cybercrime Prevention Act and the Anti-Financial Account Scamming Act will be filed against the suspects.