NBI Arrests 48 in Parañaque Crypto Romance Scam Bust

The National Bureau of Investigation Special Action Unit arrested 48 suspects during an entrapment operation at a condominium complex in Parañaque City on April 17. Forty-one of those arrested were Filipino women, with the remaining seven being foreign nationals.

Investigators discovered multiple computer workstations, laptops, mobile phones, and internet routers inside the scam hub. Suspects used fake online profiles to build romantic relationships with victims before convincing them to send money through fabricated emergencies or fraudulent cryptocurrency investment schemes.

Parañaque has become a recurring hotspot for online fraud operations. Bureau of Immigration officials raided a POGO-like scam hub in Barangay Tambo earlier this year, arresting nearly 400 illegal aliens engaged in online scams targeting victims abroad. A separate joint BI-NBI operation in the same city apprehended nine South Korean nationals operating an online loan fraud scheme from a condominium, where agents found pre-written scripts at computer stations.

BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado said the bureau is working with local and international law enforcement to prevent the Philippines from becoming a haven for cybercriminals. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. issued a directive to arrest and deport POGO workers violating Philippine laws. NCR Police Office Regional Director Major General Jose Nartatez Jr. highlighted that scam hubs operating without a license are illegal under Philippine regulations, even if they have applied for one. The April 17 operation resulted in 48 arrests.

🇵🇭 Filipino Impact

Filipino crypto users should verify any investment opportunity that originates from online relationships, especially those pushing USDT transfers. BSP-licensed exchanges like PDAX and Coins.ph have transaction monitoring systems, but peer-to-peer crypto transfers remain the preferred method for scammers to avoid detection.