Cavite raid nets 19 persons involved in scamming ops

OPERATIVES of the PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group (ACG) have arrested 19 people in a raid in Cavite for involvement in voice phishing or vishing and scamming activities, it was reported yesterday.

The ACG said the suspects, including two vloggers, were nabbed last August 23 in Imus by virtue of a warrant to search, seize and examine data issued by a court.

“Several SIM cards, mobile devices, laptops, assorted bank documents, ledgers, and scripts used to defraud the victims were seized from the suspects,” the ACG said in a statement.

The vishing scam, the PCG said, is a fraudulent practice of making phone calls posing as bank representatives to convince people to update their old cards and reveal their bank account details, such as credit card numbers as well as one-time passwords.

“The scammers then use this information to access and siphon money from their victim’s bank accounts,” the ACG said.

The suspects will be charged with violation of Republic Act (RA) 12010, or the Anti-Financial Account Scamming Act (AFASA) which President Marcos Jr. signed last month.

“This is the first time that the PNP ACG will file criminal charges for violation of AFASA since its effectivity,” the ACG said.

The suspects will also be charged for violation of RA 8484 or the Access Devices Regulation Act of 1998 and RA 10173 or the Data Privacy Act of 2012, both in RA 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act.

ACG director Brig. Gen. Francis Cariago vowed the ACG will remain unrelenting in going after people involved in cybercrimes.

“The PNP ACG will be relentless in its efforts to go after these scammers and the masterminds,” said Cariaga.