Authorities, on September 20, rescued 84 Filipinos working at a “love scam hub” disguised as a small-scale business process outsourcing (BPO) company in Angeles City during a raid operation over alleged computer related fraud activities.
The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Pampanga District Office implemented a search warrant issued by Presiding Judge April Joy Magsayo-Aguila of the Regional Trial Court 3rd Judicial Region Branch 61 against occupants of FXTM USDT Forex Trading at the 4th floor, Living Rock Building in Barangay Salapungan over alleged violations of Republic Act 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act.
The BPO is named FMD Non-Voices Outsourcing Services, owned by a certain Irene dela Cruz Vergara, based on the business clearance issued by the barangay last June 6.
The NBI seized boxes of SIM cards, mobile phones, computers, and various documents.
Barangay Salapungan chair Rey Malig served as a witness during the raid operation. Malig said the 84 Filipinos were brought to the NBI headquarters in Clark Freeport. No foreign nationals were caught in the raid, he added.
“Ali ya man POGO yan, mig fall yang cybercrime. Deng NBI ilang mig operate kanita, 4th floor ya mu. Detang egana-ganang confiscated items dela da la rin,” Malig told Rappler on Saturday.
Angeles City chief adviser IC Calaguas confirmed that there are no POGOs in the city. Calaguas said the city government will release an official statement once all information has been received from the NBI.
“It is not a POGO. It is a love scam owned and run by a Filipino, based on the initial report. We have not been able to issue an official statement yet because we don’t have the full information from the NBI. All the info from NBI is pending. So the good thing is, it is not POGO,” Calaguas said.