Police raid call center for Internet “scam”

CEBU, Philippines - Members of the Anti-Cybercrime Group in Cebu yesterday raided a call center company for alleged involvement in an Internet scam.

Elements of the Anti-Cyber Crime Group led by Senior Inspector Michael Vertudaso swooped on Interface Techno-Phil Inc. in Barangay Luz at 12 a.m. for alleged violation of Republic Act 8484 otherwise known as Access Device Act.

Law enforcers were armed with search warrant issued by Regional Trial Court Branch 11 Judge Ramon Daomilas.

The call center company operated by a certain Sylvia Norton is allegedly deceiving their international customers through a dubious package deal. The allegation however was denied by the company’s legal counsel, Glenn Villariza.

In a report over dyLA, Villariza was quoted that his client is running a legitimate call center business.

The police claimed to have received a tip from two agents about the center’s alleged scam. Vertudaso said that the center through its agents call potential members based in the United States and convince them to be a member of the Waka Network Savings and avail of their discount freebies that include 100 dollars worth of gasoline and a gift certificate from Walmart.

Potential members register for a charge of US$2.99 online. However, unexplained additional charges are subtracted from the member’s credit card. The tipsters said that their customers failed to get freebies and would often complain to the agency, which they could not also explain since what they do is just make outbound calls.

During the raid, 400 units of computers were confiscated while 120 agents have been invited for questioning. The center’s operator was not around during the raid because she is based in another country.

Lynevie Cabanilla, a call center agent, said that their company has been operating for over a year. She said she had no idea that their center is operating a scam. Cabanilla said she did not also know that additional charges are being incurred upon online registration.

The police are now preparing charges for violation of the RA 8484 against operator and other responsible officials of the company.— /FPL (FREEMAN)